Incorrect discharge port

Brokers had acted on behalf of charterers in respect of a voyage charter from Nigeria to the US Gulf.  In subsequently negotiating the terms of a preliminary round trip whereby the charterers would discharge some cargo in Dakar, Senegal before returning to load the cargo in Nigeria, the broker mistakenly reported the discharge port as being in the Ivory Coast and agreed the preliminary voyage with owners on that basis.  The error only came to light after the fixture had been agreed and the cargo sold.

The owners agreed to perform the longer voyage to Dakar but at a higher rate than the one previously agreed.  There was clearly no defence to the claim and the Club negotiated a settlement at US$ 150,000.

This claim is a reminder of the potential consequence of simple errors.