Batavia Eximp & Contracting (S) Pte Ltd v Pedregal Maritime SA ([2026] EWCA Civ 1158)

Procedural record

1. 16 February 2023Arbitration

   16 February 2023Arbitration

   Arbitral Award dated 16 February 2023

   Decision summary

   The arbitrator held that the Hague-Visby one-year time bar applied to cargo carried under deck, but that the stated on-deck cargo was outside the Hague-Visby Rules.

   Participants

   Pedregal Maritime SA

   Batavia Eximp & Contracting (S) Pte Ltd

   Institution

   Arbitrator

   Ian Kinnell KC

   3 years, 6 months and 19 days later · 1296 days

2. 4 September 2026England and Wales

   4 September 2026England and Wales

   Judgment of Court of Appeal (Civil Division) in the case CA-2025-002753; CA-2025-002705 dated 4 September 2026

   Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

   Case no.

   CA-2025-002753; CA-2025-002705

   Citation

   [2026] EWCA Civ 1158

   Decision summary

   The Court dismissed Batavia's appeal on whether Singapore proceedings seeking security were a suit under Article III rule 6 of the Hague-Visby Rules, and allowed Pedregal's appeal, holding that the bills did not sufficiently identify the variable-value cargo carried on deck. The Court held that the Article III rule 6 time bar therefore applied to the whole claim.

   Participants

   Batavia Eximp & Contracting (S) Pte Ltd

   Representative

   Nigel Eaton KC (For: Batavia Eximp & Contracting (S) Pte Ltd)

   Representative

   Helen Morton (For: Batavia Eximp & Contracting (S) Pte Ltd)

   Pedregal Maritime SA

   Representative

   Chris Smith KC (For: Pedregal Maritime SA)

   Representative

   Maya Chilaeva (For: Pedregal Maritime SA)

   Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

   Judge

   Lady Justice Asplin

   Judge

   Lord Justice Phillips

   Judge

   Lord Justice Nugee

   Authorities cited

   24

   • Arbitration Act 1996
     statute
   • Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1924
     statute
   • Bill of Lading Act 1855
     statute
   • Limitation Act 1980
     statute
   • Hague-Visby Rules
     treaty
   • Hague Rules (International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law Relating to Bills of Lading, signed at Brussels on 25 August 1924)
     treaty
   • 1968 Protocol amending the Hague Rules (Protocol concluded at Brussels on 23 February 1968)
     treaty
   • Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 1969
     treaty
   • FIMBank plc v KCH Shipping (The Giant Ace) ([2024] UKSC 38; [2024] Bus. LR 1845)
     case
   • Alize 1954 v Allianz Elementar Versicherungs AG (The CMA CGM Libra) ([2021] UKSC 51; [2021] Bus LR 1678)
     case
   • Compania Colombiana de Seguros v Pacific Steam Navigation Co ([1965] 1 QB 101)
     case
   • Aries Tanker Corporation v Total Transport Ltd ([1977] 1 WLR 185)
     case
   • The Kapetan Markos ([1986] 1 Lloyd's Rep 211)
     case
   • The Nordglimt ([1987] 1 QB 183)
     case
   • The Amazona ([1989] 2 Lloyd's Rep 130)
     case
   • Cia Portorafti Commerciale SA v Ultramar Panama Inc (The Captain Gregos) ([1990] 3 All ER 967)
     case
   • The Leni ([1992] 2 Lloyd's Rep 48)
     case
   • The Finnrose ([1994] 1 Lloyd's Rep 559)
     case
   • The Pionier ([1995] 1 Lloyd's Rep 223)
     case
   • Svenska Traktor AB v Maritime Agencies (Southampton) ([1953] 2 QB 295)
     case
   • Timberwest Forest Ltd v Gearbulk Pool Ltd (Gearbulk I) ([2003] BCCA 39)
     case
   • Gearbulk Pool Ltd v Seaboard Shipping Co (Gearbulk II) ([2006] BCCA 552)
     case
   • The Alhani ([2018] EWHC 1495 (Comm); [2018] 2 Lloyd's Rep 563)
     case
   • The Golden Endurance ([2016] EWHC 2110 (Comm))
     case