Club Articles
This page showcases insights from our team and network, covering key judgments, legislation and industry trends. Below you will find hot topics along with all articles throughout the years.
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Know Your LOI Counterparty: Lessons from the Court of Appeal
Letters of Indemnity are common in shipping, often used to address potential liabilities arising from practical issues. While convenient, they carry material legal and financial risks, as highlighted by the recent Court of Appeal decision.
By Alessia Di Pietro
Posted on January 19 2026
By Alessia Di Pietro
Published January 19 2026
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Damages for late redelivery: CA says No change
Court of Appeal overturns Commercial Court decision and holds that owners were entitled to substantial damages even though they could not have taken advantage of the higher market rates.
By Marcia Perucca
Posted on December 04 2025
By Marcia Perucca
Published December 04 2025
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Deposit Denied: UKSC Draws the Line in the King Crude Escrow Saga
The recent Supreme Court decision in King Crude Carriers SA v Ridgebury November LLC [2025] UKSC 39 brings important clarification to the law governing deposit claims under ship sale contracts.
By James Smith
Posted on November 20 2025
By James Smith
Published November 20 2025
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Better watch your ‘back-to-back’
In today’s chartering world, vessel fixtures often run through a chain of supposedly “back-to-back” contracts. But are they really?
This article looks at what “back-to-back” means in practice, where gaps arise, and how Members can avoid being caught in the middle.
By Anna Basta
Posted on November 17 2025
By Anna Basta
Published November 17 2025
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The Grand Amanda: The Implied Indemnity Revisited
UK High Court clarifies implied indemnities in Sino East Transportation Ltd and Grand Amazon Shipping Ltd.
The case arose from a dispute under a NYPE 1946 charterparty involving the bulk carrier ‘Grand Amanda’, chartered to carry soya beans from Montevideo and Bahia Blanca to China.
By Anna Basta
Posted on August 07 2025
By Anna Basta
Published August 07 2025
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Stipulating to Arbitration in U.S. Crew Employment Contracts: FAQs
This article considers the enforceability of arbitration clauses within U.S. crew employment contracts, the statutory and common law principles applicable, and the benefits of arbitration.
By Owen Mearing
Posted on July 21 2025
By Owen Mearing
Published July 21 2025
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Employment Orders: FAQs
A Charterer’s right to employ the vessel and provide orders to the Master or Owner is a key feature of a time charter. In this article, some of the key points to take into consideration when either giving or considering employment orders are discussed.
By Laura Haddon and Heloise Campbell
Posted on July 02 2025
By Laura Haddon and Heloise Campbell
Published July 02 2025
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Hold cleaning terms: More Clarity, More Uncertainty?
The DL Lilac case confirms charterers must arrange reinspection without undue delay, but what’s “reasonable” remains unclear. It highlights the need for clearer hold condition clauses to avoid off-hire disputes.
By Catherine Aznar
Posted on May 22 2025
By Catherine Aznar
Published May 22 2025
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Misdelivery: A mere receipt or a contract of carriage?
Misdelivery without a bill of lading carries legal risk, but liability depends on contract context. In The Sienna, the bill became contractual post-novation, yet no loss was found.
By Despoina Kafka
Posted on May 13 2025
By Despoina Kafka
Published May 13 2025
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Once Paramount, Always Paramount: Hague Rules Vs Contractual Provisions
Once the Hague Rules are incorporated via a clause paramount, they take priority over conflicting contract terms. The court confirmed that attempts to shorten the Hague Rules' time limits must be clear.
By Kalia Nicolaou
Posted on May 07 2025
By Kalia Nicolaou
Published May 07 2025
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MSC Flaminia – The Final Word on Limitation
The UK Supreme Court confirmed charterers can limit liability to owners under the 1976 Convention. Only specific claims under Article 2.1 are limitable—not general ship repair costs.
By Voirrey Davies
Posted on May 01 2025
By Voirrey Davies
Published May 01 2025
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Too Late to Litigate: Post-Discharge Misdelivery Claims
The UK Supreme Court ruled that the one-year time bar under the Hague-Visby Rules applies to misdelivery claims even after discharge. This decision in The Giant Ace emphasises the urgency of prompt legal action in maritime disputes.
By Anastasis Kyriakou
Posted on May 01 2025
By Anastasis Kyriakou
Published May 01 2025
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The Revised USTR Plan to Impose Port Fees on Chinese Vessels and Operators
The Revised USTR Plan imposes phased fees on Chinese-owned, operated, and built vessels at U.S. ports starting October 14, 2025. It also includes long-term LNG shipping restrictions and potential tariffs on maritime equipment to promote U.S.-built alternatives.
By Lauren Wilgus
Posted on April 23 2025
By Lauren Wilgus
Published April 23 2025
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Notice of Readiness: FAQs
A Notice of Readiness (“NOR”) is an important document, under a voyage charter it represents the delivery of the vessel into the charter service and will likely play an important role in the commencement of laytime.
Disputes relating to laytime, including the validity of the Notice of Readiness, are common and the below is intended to be a short summary of the main principles relating to tender of an NOR.
By Pushpa Pandya
Posted on April 15 2025
By Pushpa Pandya
Published April 15 2025
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The Arbitration Act 2025 - Key Changes
The Arbitration Act 2025 introduces key updates to modernise arbitration law, including a new default rule for arbitration agreements, enhanced tribunal powers, and clarified court support.
By Marcia Perucca
Posted on March 19 2025
By Marcia Perucca
Published March 19 2025
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Update from Greece: Limitless? Not this time!
The recently published Greek Supreme Court decision number 1806/2023 reaffirmed shipowners’ right to limit liability under the LLMC 1976 Convention for maritime claims in the event of a collision, in respect of losses arising out of Master’s personal acts or omissions, but not out of shipowners’ personal acts or omissions.
By Panagiotis Adamos
Posted on March 05 2025
By Panagiotis Adamos
Published March 05 2025
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When is a seaman, not a seaman (II)?
The U.S 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Santee v Oceaneering International Inc of 12th March 2024 was discussed in – “When is a seaman, not a seaman (I)?”. The decision was that Santee was not a member of the crew and the court held that he had fraudulently pleaded his status as a Jones Act Seaman working as a remote operated vehicle (ROV) technician aboard a drillship on the Outer Continental Shelf.
By Frederick Phillips
Posted on November 07 2024
By Frederick Phillips
Published November 07 2024
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What’s Affected – the Vessel or the Port?
Following speculation concerning the allocation of delays attributable to COVID-19, a recent English High Court decision considers the widely used BIMCO Infectious or Contagious Diseases Clause for Time Charter Parties.
By Angeliki Panera
Posted on March 13 2025
By Angeliki Panera
Published March 13 2025
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Off-Hire: FAQs
Off-hire clauses are a critical component of time charter agreements. For both Owners and Charterers alike, understanding the nuances of these clauses is essential in managing disputes, and ensuring operational clarity.
By Sophie Cordonnier
Posted on February 13 2025
By Sophie Cordonnier
Published February 13 2025
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The Star Antares – More Than An Average Decision?
In the case of Star Axe I LLC v Royal Sun Alliance Luxembourg SA and others, The Star Antares [2023] EWHC 2784, the English High Court has clarified a long standing debate by finding that the York Antwerp Rules 2016 are incorporated into the Congenbill 1994 when General Average is agreed to be adjusted “according to York-Antwerp Rules 1994, or any subsequent modification thereof.”
By Michael Cox
Posted on January 19 2025
By Michael Cox
Published January 19 2025
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