“Beyond the Libra”: perspectives on passage planning in the digital age

Ian Teare, Tony Goldsmith and Peter Thornton MBE, of Hill Dickinson, consider the legal ramifications associated with the use of ECDIS

It would be fair to say that the decision of the High Court [2019] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 595 (upheld by the Court of Appeal, [2020] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 565) in The CMA CGM Libra divided opinion across the shipping industry as to whether the vessel should be considered unseaworthy by virtue of a defect in the passage plan and whether owners had exercised due diligence in that regard. The industry now eagerly awaits the decision of the Supreme Court which is expected towards the end of 2021/early in 2022.