2024-05-31
647 在London Arbitration 5/24案中，涉及期租承租人安排加油，但未支付油款，供油商提起仲裁的问题。
在2023年4月，涉案船舶期租合同背靠背租约链上最终的承租人，在中国港口安排加油，但最终未支付油款。供油商对该承租人及船舶的船东及船舶提起仲裁，理由是该承租人代表船舶安排了燃油。
仲裁于 2023 年 7 月开始，索赔顾问代表燃油供应商任命了 LMAA 正式成员。承租人指示伦敦律师并任命了一名有声望的IMAA 正式会员。两名当事人指定的仲裁员发现自己意见一致，没有指定第三名仲裁员。
关于实质性主张，在提交的索赔文件中，供油商指出了一个人的身份，他们称他们曾与承租人就燃油订购进行过接触。他们说他们通过 WhatsApp 与他联系。他们没有在提交的材料中披露相关的交换信息，而是在承租人提交辩护材料之前披露了相关信息。
承租人承认他们订购了燃油，但声称船东已根据发票支付相关款项，因此索赔已得到满足。随后，供油商联系了他们指定的仲裁员，并告诉他，他们听说船东已对中间承租人提起仲裁，声称未付租金和未付的燃油款项。供油商的索赔顾问否认他们已收到船东或其他任何人的任何付款，他们要求仲裁庭继续裁决。
仲裁庭指示供油商提交答复意见，并在信笺上提供一份声明，确认他们尚未收到付款。当仲裁庭于2023年10月收到这份声明时，要求承租人的律师发表评论，但他们没有发表评论。随后，律师被问及是否会提出修改后的辩护，但他们没有回应。供油商索赔顾问随后于2023年11月请求仲裁庭继续裁决。
仲裁庭获悉可能包括船东在内的和解谈判。2023年12月，收到了供油商一名员工的证人证词，其中列出了销售谈判的历史以及谁做了什么。这主要涉及第二个仲裁，但由于承租人不再有任何潜在的有效辩护，因此没有增加任何内容。
承租人提出在2024年2月底之前解决索赔，但仲裁庭了解到，该提议不包括对供油商成本的任何分摊。供油商坚持要求仲裁庭公布其裁决。
最终，仲裁庭裁定该承租人得支付供油商油款，所有律师费及仲裁庭费用。
作为船东，尤其是市场波动剧烈的时候，避免这种情况，最好是在加油前就让期租租家及供油商提供相关的Bunker Non-Lien Notice，如下，以避免期租租家安排加油不支付油款而被供油商扣船。
To: The head Owners and Master of MV [ Vessel’s name]
Fm: Bunker Sellers or Supplier [insert name of Sellers or supplier, their address and contact details, name of barge etc]
Date: [insert date]
Dear Sirs/Madams,
Please to take note that the bunker [insert specification of bunker and quantity to be supplied ] will be supplied for the vessel [insert name of vessel] by the barge [ insert name of barge, barge IMO. No.] at [ insert name of port, berth or anchorage] today [insert date], were ordered by Messer [ insert name of charterers, address and contact details ].
We, [insert name of bunkers sellers or supplier, or master of bunker barge ], hereby confirm and acknowledge that the bunker and bunkering services which to be for Messer [ insert name of charterers, address and contact details ] their solely account, and neither the vessel [insert name of vessel ], the Owners [insert name of Owners ] nor the Master [insert name of Master] is a party to the bunker supply contact, and no lien, encumbrance or any rights shall arise on the vessel.
Yours faithfully,
The Seller or Supplier The Master of
[insert name of Sellers or Supplier] [insert Vessel’s name ]
………………………………………. …………………………………..
[insert name and title of signatory] [insert name of the Master]
BUNKER NON-LIEN NOTICE
To: Bunker Sellers/Trader and or Supplier [insert name of Sellers/Trader and or supplier, their address and contact details]
Fm: Buyer [insert name of charterers, their address and contact details]
Date: [insert date]
Dear Sirs/Madams,
Please to take note that we,[ insert name of charterers, their address and contact details ] as the time charterers of the vessel [insert name of vessel ] are ordering bunker [insert specification of bunker and quantity to be supplied ] on [ insert date ], which will be supplied for the vessel [ insert name of vessel ] at [ insert name of port, berth or anchorage for bunkering] o/a [insert the date ] are on our account and our credit to the vessel [ insert name of vessel ] on charter to us, and the bunkers to be supplied for the vessel and bunkering service are solely for our account as the time charterers.
Neither the vessel [insert name of vessel], the Owners [insert name of Owners] nor the Master [insert name of Master] is a party to the bunker supply contact, and no lien, encumbrance or any rights shall arise on the vessel.
Yours faithfully,
The Seller/Trader or Supplier The charterers of
[insert name of Sellers/Trader or Supplier] M/V [insert name of vessel]
[insert name of charterers]
…………………………………….. …………………………………..
[insert name and title of signatory] [insert name and title of signatory]
海运圈聚焦专栏作者Alex （微信公众号 航运佬)
