Trans Trade RK SA v Sebat Shipping and Trading Company ([2026] EWHC 950 (Comm))

Procedural record

1. 24 March 2025Arbitration

   24 March 2025Arbitration

   Arbitral Award dated 24 March 2025 (amended 16 May 2025)

   Decision summary

   The tribunal awarded the Owners US$844,131.25 in demurrage, comprising US$4,114.06 at Constanta and US$840,017.19 at Brake, and €21,616.40 in discharge-port expenses. It dismissed the Owners’ indemnity claim and the Charterers’ counterclaim. The amended Award treated laytime as commencing when the hatches were opened, calculated from 0800 on 16 May 2022.

   Participants

   Trans Trade RK SA

   Sebat Shipping and Trading Company

   Institution

   Arbitrator

   Jonathan Elvey

   Arbitrator

   Daniella Horton

   Authorities cited

   1

   • The Happy Day [2002] EWCA Civ 1068; [2002] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 487
     case

   1 year, 1 month and 4 days later · 400 days

2. 28 April 2026England and Wales

   28 April 2026England and Wales

   Judgment of the High Court of Justice, Commercial Court in the case Trans Trade RK SA v Sebat Shipping and Trading Company ([2026] EWHC 950 (Comm))

   High Court of Justice, Commercial Court

   Decision summary

   The court allowed the Charterers’ appeal under section 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 on the question of when laytime could commence after an invalid notice of readiness. It held that the tribunal erred in law by treating commencement of cargo operations as sufficient despite the invalid notice and the absence of findings establishing an effective waiver. The Award was varied so that the Owners recovered only US$4,114.06 and €21,616.40, with interest; the arbitration costs were remitted to the tribunal, and the question of remitting the clause 11 claim was reserved for a consequential hearing.

   Participants

   Trans Trade RK SA

   Representative

   Michael Nolan KC (For: Trans Trade RK SA)

   Sebat Shipping and Trading Company

   Representative

   Sean O’Sullivan KC (For: Sebat Shipping and Trading Company)

   Representative

   Thomas Steward (For: Sebat Shipping and Trading Company)

   High Court of Justice, Commercial Court

   Judge

   Peter MacDonald Eggers KC

   Authorities cited

   34

   • Arbitration Act 1996
     statute
   • The Happy Day [2002] EWCA Civ 1068; [2002] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 487
     case
   • The Mexico I [1990] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 507
     case
   • The Niobe [1993] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 52
     case
   • Matthews v Smallwood [1910] 1 Ch. 777
     case
   • Fuller’s Theatre and Vaudeville Co. v Rofe [1923] A.C. 435
     case
   • United States Shipping Board v J.J. Masters and Co. (1922) 10 Ll. L. Rep. 573
     case
   • Mardorf Peach & Co. v Attica Corporation of Liberia (The Laconia) [1977] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 315; [1977] A.C. 850
     case
   • Youell v Bland Welch & Co. Ltd. (The Superhulls Cover-Case) (No 2) (Youell and Others v Bland Welch & Co. Ltd. (The Superhulls Cover-Case) (No 2) [1990] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 431)
     case
   • Geogas SA v Trammo Gas Ltd (The Baleares) [1993] 1 Ll Rep 215
     case
   • The Chrysalis [1983] 1 WLR 1469
     case
   • Zermalt Holdings SA v Nu-Life Upholstery Repairs Ltd [1985] 2 EGLR 14
     case
   • Bulk Ship Union SA v Clipper Bulk Shipping Ltd (The Pearl C) [2012] EWHC 2595 (Comm); [2012] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 533
     case
   • Pace Shipping Co Ltd v Churchgate Nigeria Ltd [2009] EWHC 1975 (Comm); [2010] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 183
     case
   • MRI Trading AG v Erdenet Mining Corporation LLC [2013] EWCA Civ 156; [2013] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 638
     case
   • The Sylvia (Sylvia Shipping Co Ltd v Progress Bulk Carriers Ltd (The Sylvia) [2010] EWHC 542 (Comm); [2010] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 81)
     case
   • Bunge SA v Nibulon Trading BV [2013] EWHC 3936 (Comm)
     case
   • Cottonex Anstalt v Patriot Spinning Mills Ltd [2014] EWHC 236 (Comm)
     case
   • Maurice J Bushell & Co v Born [2017] EWHC 2227 (Ch)
     case
   • Reliance Industries Ltd v The Union of India [2018] EWHC 822 (Comm); [2018] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 562
     case
   • Fehn Schiffahrts GmbH & Co KG v Romani SpA [2018] EWHC 1606 (Comm); [2018] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 385
     case
   • The Johnny K [2006] EWHC 134 (Comm); [2006] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 666
     case
   • The Avala (No. 2) [1996] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 311
     case
   • Van der Giessen-de-Noord Shipbuilding Division BV v Imtech Marine & Offshore BV [2009] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 273
     case
   • Alegrow SA v Yayla Agro Gida San Ve Nak AS [2020] EWHC 1845 (Comm); [2021] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 565
     case
   • Mitsui & Co (USA) Inc v Asia-Potash International Investment (Guangzhou) Co Ltd [2023] EWHC 1119 (Comm); [2024] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 639
     case
   • Sharp v Viterra [2024] UKSC 14
     case
   • Ayhan Sezer Yag VE Gida Endustrisi Ticaret Ltd Sirket v Agroinvest SA [2024] EWHC 479 (Comm); [2024] 1 CLC 432
     case
   • URE Energy Ltd v Notting Hill Genesis [2025] EWCA Civ 1407
     case
   • Olam Global Agri Pte Ltd v Holbud [2025] EWHC 3187 (Comm)
     case
   • Scrutton on Charterparties (25th ed., 2024), para. 9-081
     academic
   • Schofield on Laytime & Demurrage (8th ed., 2022), para. 3.382
     academic
   • Carver on Charterparties (3rd ed., 2024), para. 9-102
     academic
   • Russell on Arbitration (24th ed.), para. 8-172
     academic