Arbitral Digest

Matter

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

  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.

    Supporting details

    1 authority · 4 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
  2. Date not availableEngland and Wales

    Date not availableEngland 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.

    Supporting details

    34 authorities · 6 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

    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

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