High speed ferry and increased fees

A company ordered a ferry from a shipyard. A naval architect member was appointed to supervise the build but the design had been produced by another naval architect. As the vessel was to be used on an international route, she had to conform to High Speed Craft (HSC) regulations, which are more stringent than regulations for domestic craft.

Several meetings took place over the nine month build period between the yard, the member and the classification society. It appeared that the owner and the yard wanted to build the ferry cheaply. The HSC regulations specify certain requirements over the build of elements of the ferry. However, the classification society did not raise these issues until close to the end of the build period. The issues meant that the yard had to undertake additional work, which implied extra costs. It attempted to pass these on to the member by alleging negligence on the part of the member.

ITIC represented the member at a meeting with the yard and pointed out that there was no evidence of negligence by the member, whose only role was to supervise the build. The yard subsequently withdrew the claim.