Arbitration Clause In LOU Held To Replace Charterparty Arbitration Clause

Viscous Global Investment Ltd v Palladium Navigation Corp [2014] EWHC 2654 (Comm)

The Claimants had claims for cargo damage against the vessel Owners arising under four bills of lading. The vessel was the subject of a chain of three charterparties. The head and sub-charter provided for London Arbitration (two arbitrators unless a sole could be agreed), and the LMAA Small Claims Procedure for claims under US$100,000. The sub-sub-charter provided for Singapore Arbitration.

Owners' P&I Club provided an LOU to the Claimants as security for their claims. The LOU provided for London Arbitration before a three-man Tribunal, stating in part: "we confirm that the Ship Owners agree that the above mentioned claims shall be subject to London Arbitration ... and English Law to apply ... and for each party to nominate its own arbitrator and the two so appointed may appoint a third".

The Claimants commenced arbitration under the terms of the LOU, and Owners challenged the Tribunal's jurisdiction. Owners argued that the arbitration clause in the head charter was incorporated into the bills of lading and that this remained intact, despite the provisions of the LOU. This included the use of the Small Claims Procedure. Owners said that the appointed Tribunal had no jurisdiction over claims which would inevitably be less than US$100,000.

The Court held that the arbitration provision in the LOU replaced the charterparty arbitration clauses. The Claimants had validly commenced arbitration and the Tribunal as appointed had jurisdiction.

The key question was whether the parties had intended the provisions of the LOU to replace the original arbitration provisions wholesale, or merely to vary them in limited respects but leaving them in force. The arbitration clause in the LOU was comprehensive and able to operate as a free standing agreement. Further, there was no reason in principle why the terms of the LOU should not operate as a complete replacement.

The Court...