Assumptions = Claims

A commercial manager arranged for a ship to load cargo at a port which the ship had not previously called and of which neither the commercial manager or the ship owner had any previous experience. The commercial manager estimated, without checking with the agents, that the disbursements at the port would cost in the region of USD 10,000 and used this sum in the voyage calculation.

On arrival it transpired that the port was small and that tugs were required to assist the ship to and from the berth. Furthermore the port was close to a holiday resort and as such there were additional fire and pollution protection services which were compulsory.

The final disbursement account totalled USD 65,000. The owner was expecting to earn on the basis of the original calculation and claimed the USD 55,000 balance from the commercial manager, which was reimbursed by ITIC.