Dec 1, 20212 min readNavigationPassage planning & seaworthinessIf a ship is suitably equipped to safely navigate and is manned by competent crew, then can the crew’s failure to properly plan a passage...
Nov 30, 20212 min readLaytime / demurrageDemurrage, time bars and time zonesAn interesting one for those in commercial operations. What time zone should be used to determine whether a demurrage claim is time...
Nov 18, 20212 min readVoyage charterNotice of Readiness (NOR) and what is an 'arrived ship'Can charterer’s obligation to provide for a berth upon vessel’s arrival be triggered without the Master tendering notice of readiness?...
Nov 1, 20212 min readLOCLetters of Credit, Bank's duties & UCP 500In international trade, a Letter of Credit (LOC) is used to negate the risk of non-payment for goods by the buyer to the seller. Release...
Oct 31, 20211 min readAdmiraltyCollision, set-off and time barIn ship collision cases, single liability principle is understood as being a form of set off because of the way calculations are done in...
Oct 15, 20211 min readNavigationVessels Restricted in Ability to Manoeuvre (RAM)A vessel that is ‘restricted in her ability to maneuver’ (RAM) enjoys certain privileges, for eg. those mentioned in Rule 18 of COLREGS....
Sep 26, 20211 min readHire relatedBaltic Exchange changing its benchmark vessel impacts hire payment?If the Baltic Exchange alters the published rate scheme by changing the benchmark vessel during the currency of charter then hire...
Sep 16, 20212 min readBill of ladingIs a document a bill of lading just because it is titled as such?Is a document a bill of lading just because it is titled and worded as such? The question was up before Singapore Court of Appeal in The...
Sep 15, 20212 min readCLCApplicability of CLC 92Tankers carrying more than 2,000 t of persistent oil as cargo are required to maintain insurance as per CLC 92. This is to ensure that...
Jul 25, 20211 min readNavigationMaster & Pilot - apportioning blame for damaged SPM pipelineThere has always existed inherent tension in the relationship of responsibility between a ship master and pilot. Usually shipowners are...
Jun 27, 20211 min readCrew / people relatedDisability compensation - for heart ailmentFor a seafarer, claiming disability compensation can be a hard task. Its down to the terms in the employment contract and the judicial...
Jun 24, 20211 min readFoulingWhat is 'excessive' fouling?Hull cleaning clauses or prolonged port stays clauses are fairly common in time charterparties. Cleaning of the hull is normally on...
Jun 15, 20212 min readLimitation of liabilityError by crew / owner & Limitation of Liability in US Sluggish response to engine orders can get a ship into trouble, especially when there is a strong current. In the case of The American...
May 16, 20211 min readBunkersContaminated bunkersDo you recall the Houston bunkers saga from 2018-19? Hundreds of vessels experienced mechanical failures due to contaminated bunkers....
May 9, 20211 min readInsuranceUtmost good faith - owner not disclosing all factsThe doctrine of uberrimae fidei (utmost good faith) is an ancient one. Many countries have in the recent past moved away from it and...