On the Rocks

The Swedish Hydrographic Office produced a navigation chart with an incorrectly marked rock. A Russian tanker struck the rock and filed a claim against the organisation. The Swedish Supreme Court held that the Hydrographic Office was liable to the tanker owners for the consequences.

This included the damage to the ship. Additionally, the Court held that because the chart was defective, the owner had a valid defence to any claim for the clean-up costs of the resulting oil spillage and any pollution claims.