Violation of the California's Ocean-Going Vessel At Berth Regulations Results In almost $2m million settlement.

The crux of the issue in this case was that the restroom on the Jet Cat Express, a passenger vessel owned and operated by Catalina, was too narrow for Plaintiff's wheelchair and he unfortunately soiled himself.

Bunker spill from an oil and chemical tanker in ballast - Is the tanker a "ship" as defined in the CLC Convention when in ballast, and not carrying persistent oil?- Is limitation to be determined under CLC 1992 or the Bunker Convention 2001/ LLMC 76/96?

Collision at sea within EEZ of PRC - Forum non conveniens - Whether Hong Kong proceedings should be stayed in favour of Shanghai Maritime Court.

Are damages claimable in addition to demurrage following a delay in discharging? Is a separate breach required?

Collision action - Convoy of eight vessels transiting Suez Canal - Five-ship Casualty - 100% Liability for collisions

The Philippines' Supreme Court decides that a seafarer's heirs are entitled to death benefits

Arbitration tribunal clarifies that a written notification under the Inter-Club Agreement does not need to refer to the ICA nor include details of the cargo claim and the claim amount for it to be valid

US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals finds an injured welder to be a Jones Act seaman after distinguishing the facts of the case from those of an earlier Fifth Circuit decision

The Supreme Court of India decides that ports have to look to consignees and their agents - not shipowners and their agents - for storage and demurrage charges incurred in respect of uncollected/ abandoned cargo.

U.S

The English Commercial Court has ruled in favour of the defendant charterers in a demurrage dispute that examined the choice of route and care for cargo.

Alize 1954 and CMA CGM SA v. Allianz Elementar Versicherungs AG & Others (CMA CGM Libra) – [2020] EWCA Civ 293, Court of Appeal (Civil Division), 4 March 2020. Defective passage plan can make a vessel unseaworthy

HARMONY INNOVATION SHIPPING PTE LTD v CARAVEL SHIPPING INC (THE “UNIVERSAL BREMEN”) - [2020] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 206. Delivery of cargo without bills of lading - Back-to back chain of letters of indemnity on the International Group standard form -  Court recognises importance of allowing vessels to continue trading.

TRAFIGURA MARITIME LOGISTICS PTE LTD v CLEARLAKE SHIPPING PTE LTD and CLEARLAKE SHIPPING PTE LTD v PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A. (“THE MIRACLE HOPE”) [2020] EWHC 995 (Comm)

Is a report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) admissible in an unsafe port claim in a London LMAA arbitration? 

AS Fortuna Opco BV and another v Sea Consortium Pte Ltd and others [2020] SGHC 72

Facts

When is a peril a piracy? Was there an attack on the vessel? Were there persons acting maliciously? Was there an act of vandalism? What there a "sabotage" of the vessel?

Failure to pass title in goods - Allocation of risks - Defence of common mistake - Status of a warehouse receipt - Bailment of goods - Limitation provisions in warehouse's terms and conditions - Estoppel