United Overseas Bank Ltd v Owner and/or Demise Charterer of the Vessel "Maersk Katalin" [2024] SGHC 282 - High Court of Singapore (Justice S Mohan) - 4 November 2024

Bills of lading - Cargo delivered by shipowner without production of bills of lading - Letter of indemnity - Whether shipowner obliged to deliver without bills of lading - Whether claimant had acquired rights under bills of lading - Causation - Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992, sections 2 and 5

Under a voyage charterparty in an amended ASBATANKVOY form dated 10 February 2020, between Maersk as owners and Winson as charterers, Winson chartered the vessel Maersk Katalin to carry a cargo of 752,870 barrels of gasoil 10 ppm sulphur. The cargo was divided into four parcels: (a) "Parcel A" and "Parcel B", which respectively comprised 330,000 and 33,513 barrels, which were purchased by Winson from BP Singapore Pte Ltd; (b) "Parcel C" comprising 330,000 barrels, which was purchased by Winson from China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corporation Ltd (CAOC); and (c) "Parcel D" comprising 59,357 barrels, which was purchased by Winson from Petrochina International (Hong Kong) Co Ltd (PCHK).