Lack of stern line prevents discharge

A North African oil company sent a circular to its panel of brokers informing them that tankers discharging at a certain North African port required a stern line.  About ten days later a London tanker broker re-negotiated the fixture of a tanker already on charter to the oil company for one further voyage.  The voyage included discharge at the port in question.  Both the broker and the oil company overlooked the fact that the tanker had no stern line. 

Bad weather prevented the tanker from discharging for about a week. When the lack of a stern line was realised, the shipowner agreed to divert to another port and claimed US$ 99,000 for deviation and detention costs.  The oil company claimed the full US$ 99,000 from its broker, but then accepted 50% as both parties had forgotten the stern line requirement.