Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Ltd v Maersk Tankers Singapore (Pte) Ltd; Winson Oil Trading Pte Ltd intervening – [2022] SGHC 242 High Court of Singapore (Justice Ang Cheng Hok) – 27 September 2022

Carriage of goods by sea – Discharge of cargo without presentation of bills of lading – Bank issuing letter of credit to purchaser – Misdelivery – Summary judgment – Whether carrier had triable defence – Whether Bank consented to discharge without bills of lading – Causation

By a contract dated 12 February 2020, as amended by an Addendum dated 17 February 2020, HLT agreed to purchase 750,000 barrels of gasoil from Winson, also an oil trader. The contract required Winson to deliver the 750,000 barrels on a delivery ex-ship basis at Singapore or by a ship-to-ship transfer at Malaysia. The delivery window was 21 to 25 February 2020, both dates inclusive. HLT was to pay by an irrevocable letter of credit 30 days after the vessel had tendered notice of readiness to discharge the gasoil.