Bunkers

Readers may find this article useful, as previously published in I-LAW/ MRI

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This list offers an overview of arbitration decisions concerning charter-party disputes, with a particular focus on awards issued by the Society of Maritime Arbitrators (SMA) and the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA). It is provided for informational purposes only, and readers are encouraged to consult the full arbitration awards or case law and form their own independent assessments.

 

This section provides an overview of arbitration awards and case law related to bunker disputes. The decisions are categorized as follows:

 

1. Quantity – This category includes cases related to bunker surveys, discrepancies in surveyor reports, shortages or surpluses of bunkers, and considerations regarding safety margins.

2. Quality – This category encompasses cases involving bunker sample analysis, debunkering procedures, engine-related issues, and instances of underperformance.

3. Deviation – This category covers cases related to deviations undertaken to procure bunkers when the vessel had low reserves. It also includes issues associated with the "safety margin" mentioned in Category 1, as well as other challenges related to bunkering and delays.

 

There are interconnected issues across the various categories. Consequently, certain matters related to "quantity" or "quality" may be associated with disputes concerning deviations.  For example, disputes related to underperformance were associated with issues concerning fuel quality or discrepancies in redelivery bunker quantity. 

 

This section will be updated regularly, with the latest additions appearing at the top of the page.