Articles on wr.no

22/05/2026

The "CATALAN SEA": Court of Appeal ruling on sanctions risk assessment for Shipowners

In an incredibly expeditious decision, handed down only 2 weeks after the hearing,  the English Court of Appeal has allowed the Shipowner's appeal in the "CATALAN SEA". The Court held that the Shipowner was entitled to rely on its sanctions clause, and refuse orders to load cargo, on the basis that doing so gave rise to a real risk of liability to sanctions.

04/08/2025

Court decision reshapes sanctions risk assessment for shipowners

In a long-awaited decision, the English High Court has found that a Shipowner’s decision to refuse their Charterers' orders to load a cargo, on the basis that doing so would expose them to sanctions, was not a decision that a reasonable shipowner could reasonably have come to.

10/06/2024

The Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 – the framework we’ve been missing?

The Electronic Trade Documents Act, which came into force in September 2023, enables a “trade document” in electronic form to be used in the same way as its paper equivalent provided that certain criteria are met.

12/12/2022

Limitation of liability in light of the MSC Flaminia (No.2) case

The right to limit liability for claims is a cornerstone and unique feature of maritime law. Limitation issues are a particularly important consideration in the aftermath of large scale casualties as the ability to limit liability may significantly reduce the financial exposure for a party and its insurers.

13/12/2021

High Court provides further guidance on implied terms under English law

In the shipping and offshore industry, guarantees are frequently given as security for a legal promise for performance of a separate or primary contract. However, as guarantees are themselves a form of security, do they also contain an implied term that security cannot be sought for breaches of their provisions? That question was recently answered by the High Court in CVLC Three Carrier Corp v Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport Company [2021] EWHC 551 (Comm).

28/06/2021

Ship recycling – ongoing liabilities for shipowners

The English Court of Appeal has in a recent judgment (Hamida Begum v Maran (UK) Limited [2021] EWCA Civ 326) upheld the High Court’s decision to decline to strike out a claim against a UK ship manager for the death of a shipyard worker in Bangladesh following a demolition sale.