Herculito Maritime Ltd v Gunvor International BV (The Polar) - [2024] UKSC 2, UK Supreme Court (Lord Hodge, Lord Hamblen, Lord Leggatt, Lady Rose and Lord Richards) - 17 January 2024

Charterparty - War and piracy risks - Ransom payment - General average - Subrogation immunity - Additional premiums for account of charterers - Whether obligations incorporated into bills of lading

The vessel Polar, owned by Herculito, was chartered to Clearlake on 20 September 2010 for a voyage from Tallin/St Petersburg to Fujairah or, at Clearlake's option, to a safe port in the Singapore area. The cargo to be carried consisted of 69,493.28 mt of fuel oil. The agreed freight rates contemplated that the voyage would be via the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aden.