A simple switch of words – US$150,000

A seller instructed a sale and purchase broker to find a buyer for two sister ships “with both spare propeller and tail-shaft available”.  The broker passed this to the buyer as “two sister ships for sale … both with spare propeller and tail-shaft available”.  It is common for sister ships to share one spare propeller and tail-shaft, but the broker had offered two of each.  The buyer only received one of each and claimed US$ 150,000 from the broker.