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30-01-2023 / Maritime, Yachts & Superyachts

The Court recently considered the following question: “Where a charterparty clause provides that no deductions from hire (including for off-hire or alleged off-hire) may be made without the shipowner’s consent: is non-payment of hire a ‘deduction’ if the Vessel is off hire at the instalment date?”

23-01-2023 / Maritime

Court confirms applicable package limit when cargo interests have to pay salvage Trafigura Pte Ltd v. TKK Shipping Pte Ltd (Thor Lineage) [2023] EWHC 26 (Comm)

09-01-2023 / Maritime

We are delighted to share that Mohamed El Hawawy, Joint Managing Partner, and Natalie Jensen, Partner, from our Dubai office, have contributed the UAE chapter to the recently published Sixth Edition of the Third Party Litigation Funding Law Review.

19-12-2022 / Maritime

In a charterparty dispute, the Court has declined to grant an anti-enforcement injunction in respect of foreign proceedings because it found that there was no binding arbitration agreement between the parties. The decision also highlights that delay can be a bar to the grant of an anti-suit injunction. Read Peter McNamee and Reema Shour’s article for an analysis of the Court’s conclusions.

15-12-2022 / Maritime

On 17 November 2022, BIMCO published a CII Operations Clause for Time Charterparties that is aimed at assisting owners and charterers in complying with carbon intensity regulations recently introduced by the IMO and that come into force on 1 January 2023. In their article, Chris Kidd and Akshay Misra summarise the CII rating system and discuss the BIMCO Clause.

12-12-2022 / Maritime

The Court of Appeal has held that a proposed charterparty which was expressly stated to be ‘subject shippers/receivers approval’ did not contain a binding arbitration agreement conferring jurisdiction on the Tribunal to determine whether the charterparty had been properly concluded.

09-12-2022 / Maritime

With COP 27 having concluded and the IMO's Intersessional Working Group on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships setting the scene for the upcoming MEPC 79, this article considers the latest updates in shipping's decarbonisation journey and what is on the horizon.

08-12-2022 / Energy & Infrastructure, Maritime

Ince is proud to share that ZESTAs has been granted International Maritime Organisation (IMO) provisional Consultative Status by the IMO Council.

23-11-2022 / Insurance, Maritime, Real Estate

We are pleased to be celebrating one year since opening our first Scottish office in the city of Glasgow.  Stefanie Johnston, dual-qualified Partner and Head of Scotland, has worked tirelessly over the last year to develop our offering through the opening of an Ince office in what is arguably an established Scottish market. Starting from the ground up, Stefanie and her team have successfully gained an admirable reputation in the region and further afield in the maritime, insurance, real estate and regulatory sectors. 

17-11-2022 / Maritime

The Shipping E-Brief is a publication providing you with key information on legal decisions and developments in shipping and related business areas.

15-11-2022 / Maritime

In September 2022, the UK Law Commission published a consultation paper with provisional recommendations for updating the Arbitration Act 1996 (the Act 1996). Amongst other things, the Law Commission considered whether any changes need to be made to: (i) s.67 of the Act 1996, which deals with jurisdictional challenges to arbitral awards; and (ii) s.69 of the Act 1996, which deals with appeals on points of law.

09-11-2022 / Maritime

CM P-MAX III Limited v. Petroleos Del Norte SA (MT Stena Primorsk) [2022] EWHC 2147 (Comm) This recent laytime and demurrage dispute demonstrates that an owner can legitimately refuse orders where such orders may jeopardise the safety of a vessel.

09-11-2022 / Maritime

Mur Shipping BV v. RTI Ltd [2022] EWCA Civ 1406 A majority of the Court of Appeal has held that the Owner under a contract of affreightment (COA) should have accepted payment of freight in Euros, rather than the US dollars provided for in the COA. Its refusal to do so meant that the Owner could not rely on the force majeure clause in the COA, in circumstances where US sanctions might have restricted US dollar transfers from or on behalf of the Charterer.

03-11-2022 / Maritime

Ceto Shipping Corporation v. Savory Inc (Victor 1) [2022] EWHC 2636 (Comm) The Court in this case had to construe a purchase option clause in a bareboat charter. Specifically, it considered whether the fact that the charterer had not fulfilled certain payment obligations under the charter because it was disputing them in good faith meant that the owner was not obliged to transfer title to the vessel at the end of the charter period.

01-11-2022 / Maritime

Trafigura Maritime Logistics Pte Ltd v. Clearlake Shipping Pte Ltd (Miracle Hope) [2022] EWHC 2234 (Comm) This cargo misdelivery claim gave rise to various issues under the letters of indemnity (LOIs) that had been given in order to secure delivery of the cargo without presentation of the original bills of lading.

25-10-2022 / Maritime

The dispute in this case highlights the potential pitfalls involved in validly terminating a contract. In such cases, it is important to consider what rights of termination might be available, whether contractual or at common law or both, and what are the requirements for valid termination in either or both cases.

19-10-2022 / Maritime

Vitol S.A v. JE Energy Ltd [2022] EWHC 2494 (Comm) The Court has upheld a seller’s entitlement to cancel an FOB sale contract where the vessel that was to be procured by the buyer did not arrive at the port by the cancellation date. It also rejected the argument that an amendment of the deadline for shipment in a letter of credit was an amendment of the sale contract of the seller’s obligation to ship by that date. The buyer’s attempt to exit the contract that became financially disadvantageous amounted to a repudiatory breach and it was held liable in damages.

17-10-2022 / Maritime

Argentum Exploration Ltd v. The Silver and all persons claiming to be interested in, and/or have rights in respect of, the silver (SS Tilawa) [2022] EWCA Civ 1318 The Court of Appeal, by a majority, has upheld the Admiralty Court decision that the Republic of South Africa (RSA) was not entitled to assert a claim of state immunity in respect of in rem proceedings brought by salvors concerning a cargo of silver bars recovered from the seabed 75 years after the sinking of the carrying vessel.

07-10-2022 / Maritime

On 22 September 2022, the UK Law Commission published a consultation paper containing proposed law reforms to the Arbitration Act 1996 (the Act). The UK Government asked the Law Commission to review the Act to ensure that it is fit for purpose and that it continues to promote the UK as a leading destination for commercial arbitrations.

06-10-2022 / Maritime

FIMBank p.l.c. v. KCH Shipping Co. Ltd (Giant Ace) [2022] EWHC 2400 (Comm) Article III r.6 of the Hague-Visby Rules (the “Rules”) provides that claims against the carrier are time-barred unless suit is brought within 12 months of the date of delivery or the date when the goods should have been delivered. However, does this apply to claims for misdelivery occurring after discharge? This is an important question formerly left unanswered the English Courts which has divided opinions. In an important judgment, the Court has now decided that it does.

30-09-2022 / Maritime

At the request of the UK Government, the Law Commission is reviewing the Arbitration Act 1996 (the “Act”) to establish whether or not it remains fit for purpose.

16-09-2022 / Maritime

The committee responsible for addressing environmental issues under the remit of the IMO is the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). Amongst several of its environmental safeguarding initiatives, the MEPC’s work includes the control of emissions from ships, including greenhouse gas emissions.

14-09-2022 / Maritime

The Shipping E-Brief is a publication providing you with key information on legal decisions and developments in shipping and related business areas.

13-09-2022 / Maritime

“Our vision is that the UK in 2030 will continue to be a leading responsible and democratic cyber power, able to protect and promote our interests in and through cyberspace in the support of national goals.”

08-09-2022 / Maritime

OCM Maritime Nile LLC & Anor v. Courage Shipping Co Ltd & Others (Courage and Amethyst) [2022] EWCA Civ 1091 This case concerned an alleged Event of Default under a finance bareboat charter and owners’ rights to terminate and raised issues of general importance under bareboat charters.

07-09-2022 / Maritime

Eastern Pacific Chartering Inc v. Pola Maritime Ltd (Divinegate) [2022] EWHC 2095 (Comm) The Court has recently dismissed a claim for wrongful arrest in an underperformance dispute and also given helpful guidance as to how speed and performance cases are to be approached.

02-09-2022 / Maritime

Dual-Qualified Partner, Stefanie Johnston, led the team from Ince, assisted by Iain Franklin, Senior Associate, following a Scottish instruction to act on behalf of Mr. Steven Davie, who was being prosecuted for alleged breaches of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (“COLREGS”). The defence at trial was conducted by David Nicolson, advocate from Compass Chambers. Mr. Davie’s legal team successfully secured his acquittal at Inverness Sheriff Court.

02-09-2022 / Maritime

In this article, Ince and Windward jointly consider the new phenomenon of Russian grain laundering, and the legal exposure for the maritime industry.

18-08-2022 / Maritime

15-08-2022 / Maritime

The publication provides in-depth analysis of laws and regulations across 34 jurisdictions and features two expert analysis chapters, discussing recognition of electronic trade documents and the maritime industry.

10-08-2022 / Maritime

Kirkwood v. Thélem Assurances [2022] CSOH 53 A recent Outer House Opinion has provided welcome clarity on the recovery of English solicitors’ fees in the Scottish Courts.

02-08-2022 / Maritime

Sea Master Special Maritime Enterprise & another v. Arab Bank (Switzerland) Ltd (Sea Master) [2022] EWHC 1953 (Comm) This bill of lading dispute raised issues as to whether the Bank financing the purchase of a cargo, and the holder of a switch bill of lading for the cargo, was a party to the arbitration agreement incorporated into the switch bill and, if so, whether certain counterclaims brought by the Owners came within the scope of that arbitration agreement. The Court agreed with the tribunal’s findings that, once the Court had decided that the Bank was a party to the arbitration agreement, then the counterclaims for reasonable remuneration and quantum meruit came within the ambit of the arbitration agreement, being claims “arising out of or in connection” with the bill of lading contract.

20-07-2022 / Maritime

MV Pacific Pearl Co Ltd v. Osios David Shipping Inc (Panamax Alexander) [2022] EWCA Civ 798 The Court of Appeal has confirmed that a party to ASG 2, the standard form Collision Jurisdiction Agreement, is obliged to accept reasonable security once it is offered and cannot choose to refuse that security and seek alternative or better security by arresting a ship. In such circumstances, there is no right to an arrest or any justification for it.

15-07-2022 / Maritime

In an interview published this morning (14 July) in The Hong Kong Maritime Hub, Ince Partner Rosita Lau, MH calls for Chinese businesses to opt for Hong Kong arbitration in their contracts, initiative that requires attention of officials from the highest level.

13-07-2022 / Maritime

NKD Maritime Limited v. Bart Maritime (No 2) Inc (Shagang Giant) [2022] EWHC 1615 (Comm) The Court has construed a force majeure clause and considered whether Buyers validly terminated a contract for the sale of a vessel on the basis that Covid-19 lockdown restrictions prevented Sellers from transferring title in the Vessel. 

20-06-2022 / Maritime

On 25 November 2021, the UK Law Commission published its Advice to the UK Government on how English law currently applies to smart legal contracts. Subsequently, on 16 March 2022, the Law Commission published its report on electronic trade documents, together with draft legislation that would implement its recommendations to allow for the legal recognition of trade documents such as bills of lading and bills of exchange in electronic form.

14-06-2022 / Maritime

Paul Knapfield v. C.A.R.S. Ltd & others [2022] EWHC 1437 (Comm) Disputes under the Carriage of Goods by Road Act 1965, which incorporates the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road 1956 (CMR), do not come up very often. This decision is, therefore, useful in illustrating when and how the CMR applies. In this case, the Court found that the CMR limit of liability applied to the claimant’s claim, with the result that his losses far exceeded the amount he could ultimately recover from the carrier.

14-06-2022 / Maritime

BIMCO has recently published CONVERSIONCON, a new standard form contract for conversion projects. The authors of this article were honoured to be part of the drafting team tasked with developing and producing the first industry standard form contract for conversion projects.

10-06-2022 / Maritime

As we move past the vertex of a U-shaped dip in the global shipping sector caused by supply chain restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is worthwhile to look back at the UAE maritime industry’s growth, lessons learned, and development outlook. Although international maritime trade dropped by 4.1 per cent in 2020, the UAE made significant achievements during this period, ranking third globally in the Bunker Supply Index, and fifth globally as a key competitive maritime hub.

06-06-2022 / Insurance, Maritime

Piraeus Bank A.E. v Antares Underwriting Limited and others (The ZouZou) [2022] EWHC 1169 (Comm)

01-06-2022 / Maritime

Ince is growing its Piraeus office with the addition of three shipping litigators, three ship finance experts, and an additional mariner to the admiralty team.

30-05-2022 / Maritime

Wilforce LLC and Awilco LNG AS v. Ratu Shipping Co SA and Sea Queen Shipping Corporation (Wilforce v. Western Moscow) [2022] EWHC 1190 (Admlty) The Admiralty Court has recently handed down judgment in the case of the collision between the LNG carrier Wilforce and the bulk carrier Western Moscow which took place in the Singapore Straits in May 2019. This case is notably the first collision case to come before the Admiralty Court since the Supreme Court handed down its judgment in the Ever Smart collision case. It is also the first case in which the Court has had to consider responsibility for a collision in a Precautionary Area.

26-05-2022 / Maritime

We are proud to announce Ince is recognised as a top-tier shipping firm again in the latest edition of the Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2022 guide. Additionally, partners Rosita Lau and Max Cross are named as “Litigation Stars” in Shipping.

25-05-2022 / Maritime, Real Estate

16-05-2022 / Maritime

The Shipping E-Brief is a publication providing you with key information on legal decisions and developments in shipping and related business areas.

09-05-2022 / Maritime

Laysun Service Co Limited v. Del Monte International GMBH [2022] EWHC 699 (Comm) This was a dispute under a contract of affreightment, in which the arbitral tribunal made an award in the Charterers’ favour. The Owners subsequently appealed, alleging that the tribunal had erred in its findings on issues of law. The Court, however, dismissed the challenge, concluding that the Owners were in fact seeking to impugn the arbitrators’ findings of fact, which were not open for appeal.

09-05-2022 / Maritime

In April 2022, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published the Working Group III report on “Mitigation of Climate Change”, the third instalment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report. This follows the Working Group I report on “The Physical Science Basis” and the Working Group II report on “Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”.

09-05-2022 / Maritime

The Law Commission of England and Wales has now published its final report on electronic trade documents, together with draft legislation for intended presentation to Parliament by May 2022.

04-05-2022 / Maritime

Unicredit Bank AG v. Euronav NV (Sienna) [2022] EWHC 957 (Comm) This was a claim brought by a bank that financed the purchase of a cargo and subsequently sought to recover damages for misdelivery following discharge of the cargo without production of the original bill of lading. The claim failed because, in the circumstances of this case, the bill of lading that had been endorsed to the Bank did not contain or evidence the contract of carriage in respect of the cargo.

27-04-2022 / Maritime

In a charterparty dispute, the Court has set aside part of an arbitration award on the grounds that the arbitrator reached a conclusion that was contrary to the common position of the parties, and for which neither party contended, without providing an opportunity for the parties to address him on the issue. In the circumstances, this represented a failure to conduct the proceedings fairly. The decision provides useful guidance on how to proceed where a tribunal makes an obvious mistake in its award but declines to remedy it.