Shipping Law Updates

• Published date: 14 November 2022
• Subject Matter: International Law, Transport, Marine/ Shipping, International Trade & Investment
• Law Firm: Rajah & Tann
• Author: Rajah & Tann

The Shipping Law Updates is a publication by our Regional Shipping Group which marshals legal expertise, industry insight, and commercial acumen in the fields of maritime and trade from the diverse talent pool of specialist lawyers at the Rajah & Tann Asia offices. The publication provides a snapshot of the key legal, regulatory, case law and industry developments in the region that have an impact on the shipping industry and your operations.

Introduction

In this issue, we consider the occurrence of supply disruptions in commodities trading and the contractual remedies available to affected parties along the supply chain - specifically, we take a look at the example of the Indonesia oil export ban earlier this year and the options available under the Palm Oil Refiners Association of Malaysia contracts. On the topic of international trade, we also examine the relationship between the sale contract, the carriage contract and the financing arrangements in the context of a recent judgment of Malaysia's apex court in Malayan Banking Berhad v Punjab National Bank [2022] 4 MLJ 758 (Federal Court).

Moving on to topics involving vessels and crew, we discuss the statutory regimes for the payment of compensation to employees for workplace injury and how it interacts with private settlements, against the backdrop of the recent Singapore High Court decision involving a crewmember aboard a vessel in M.T.M. Ship Management Pte Ltd v Devaswarupa & 3 Ors [2022] SGHC 178. We also take a look at the Bombay High Court's decision The Swedish Club v V8 Pool Inc. and Other. (Commercial Appeal Nos. 108 and 111 of 2021), which considered whether crew wages incurred post-arrest could be ranked as Sheriff's (or marshal's) expenses, and whether recoupment of...