Arbitral Digest

Matter

SLB & Ors v PAK & Ors (High Court of Justice, Commercial Court [2026] EWHC 449 (Comm))

  1. 27 February 2025Arbitration

    27 February 2025Arbitration

    Ten arbitral awards dated 27 February 2025

    Decision summary
    The Tribunal unanimously held that the obligation in each shipbuilding contract to provide a Refund Guarantee within 120 days, or such later date as the Buyer designated in writing, was an innominate term rather than a condition. The Buyers could exercise the contractual right to cancel for failure to provide the guarantees, but were not entitled to loss of bargain damages.

    Supporting details

    3 participants
    First to Eighth Claimants
    Ninth and Tenth Claimants
    The three Defendants

    1 year and 3 days later · 368 days

  2. 2 March 2026England and Wales

    2 March 2026England and Wales

    Judgment of the High Court of Justice, Commercial Court in the case SLB & Ors v PAK & Ors [2026] EWHC 449 (Comm) dated 2 March 2026

    High Court of Justice, Commercial Court

    Decision summary
    The court dismissed the section 69 appeals against ten arbitral awards. It held that the shipyard's obligation under Article X(A)(f) of the shipbuilding contracts to provide a Refund Guarantee within 120 days was an innominate term, not a condition; the contractual cancellation right did not carry an entitlement to loss of bargain damages.

    Supporting details

    27 authorities · 11 participants
    First to Eighth Claimants
    Representative
    Michael Ashcroft KC (For: First to Eighth Claimants)
    Representative
    Socrates Papadopoulos (For: First to Eighth Claimants)
    Ninth and Tenth Claimants
    Representative
    Mr Southern KC (For: Ninth and Tenth Claimants)
    Representative
    Mr Mander (For: Ninth and Tenth Claimants)
    The three Defendants
    Representative
    Mr O'Sullivan KC (For: The three Defendants)
    Representative
    Alexander Wright KC (For: The three Defendants)
    Representative
    Henry Ellis (For: The three Defendants)
    High Court of Justice, Commercial Court

    Authorities cited

    27
    • Arbitration Act 1996
      statute
    • United Scientific Holdings Ltd v Burnley BC ([1978] AC 904)
      case
    • Bunge v Tradax ([1981] 1 WLR 711)
      case
    • The Spar Capella ([2016] 2 Lloyd's Rep 447)
      case
    • The Arctic ([2019] 2 Lloyd's Rep 603)
      case
    • Cehave NV v Bremer Handelsgesellschaft mbH ([1976] 1 QB 44)
      case
    • The Hansa Murcia ([2012] EWHC 3104 (Comm))
      case
    • Trans Trust SPRL v Danubian Trading Co Ltd ([1952] 2 QB 297)
      case
    • Classic Maritime v Lion Diversified Holdings ([2010] 1 Lloyd's Rep 59)
      case
    • South Oxfordshire DC v SITA ([2007] Env LR 13)
      case
    • Teekay Tankers v STX Offshore ([2018] 1 All ER 279)
      case
    • Harold Wood Brick Co v Ferris ([1935] 2 KB 198)
      case
    • Dolphin Tanker SRL v Westport Petroleum Inc (The Savina Caylyn) ([2011] 1 Lloyd's Rep 550)
      case
    • Geogas SA v Trammo Gas Ltd (The Baleares) ([1993] 1 Lloyd's Rep 215)
      case
    • STX Offshore v? ([2018] 1 All ER 279)
      case
    • March Engineering Limited v Emblem BV ([1990] WL 10622727)
      case
    • STC v Golodetz ([1989] 2 Lloyd's Law Reports 277)
      case
    • Universal Bulk v Andre et Cie ([2001] 2 Lloyd's Law Reports 65)
      case
    • Duffus v Societe Pour L'Exportation ([1985] 1 Lloyd's Rep 621)
      case
    • Stocznia v LATCO
      case
    • Barclay v Messenger ([1874] 43 LJ Ch 449)
      case
    • Ward v Feedex ([1985] 2 Lloyd's Rep 289)
      case
    • Msas Global Logistics v Power Packaging Inc
      case
    • Lila Lisbon ([2025] EWCA Civ 1210)
      case
    • Bentsen v Taylor
      case
    • ICS v West Bromwich Building Society ([1998] 1 WLR 896)
      case
    • Spar Shipping
      case

Matter record

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SLB & Ors v PAK & Ors (High Court of Justice, Commercial Court [2026] EWHC 449 (Comm)) · Matter