Ixom Operations Pty Ltd v Blue One Shipping SA [2022] FCA 1101

Federal Court of Australia Ixom Operations Pty Ltd v Blue One Shipping SA [2022] FCA 1101 File number(s): NSD 1266 of 2020

Judgment of: BURLEY J

Date of judgment: 19 September 2022

Catchwords: ADMIRALTY – demise charter – where owner not a party to contract of carriage evidenced by bill of lading – where extensions to limitation period on bringing a claim over contaminated cargo given to the consignee of the cargo by lawyers acting for both owner and demise charterer of vessel – where consignee only brought proceedings initially against owner – where demise charterer sought to rely on limitation period – meaning of 'owner' – extension found to be granted on behalf of demise charterer CONSUMER LAW – whether conduct of owner and demise charterer regarding extensions to the limitation period amounted to a contravention of section 18 of the Australian Consumer Law – whether contributory negligence reduced any damages to which the consignee may be entitled ESTOPPEL – whether owner of vessel estopped from denying it was a party to the contract of carriage evidenced by the bill of lading – whether demise charterer estopped from relying on limitation period

Legislation: Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1991 (Cth) s 8, Sch 1A, Amended Hague Visby Rules Arts 1, 3 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) ss 87CB, 137B, Sch 2, Australian Consumer Law s 18 Sea-Carriage Documents Act 1997 (NSW) ss 5, 8

Cases cited: Air Tahiti Nui Pty Ltd v McKenzie [2009] NSWCA 429; 77 NSWLR 299 Butcher v Lachlan Elder Reality Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 60; 218 CLR 592 Commonwealth v Verwayen [1990] HCA 39; 170 CLR 394 Con-Stan Industries of Australia Pty Ltd v Norwich Winterthur Insurance (Australia) Ltd [1986] HCA 14; 160 CLR 226 Miller & Associates Insurance Broking Pty Ltd v BMW Australia Finance Ltd [2010] HCA 31; 241 CLR 357 Miller Heiman Pty Ltd v Sales Principles Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 106; 94 NSWLR 500 Pacol Ltd v Trade Line Ltd (The "Henrik Sif") [1982] 1 Lloyds Rep 456 Sidhu v van Dyke [2014] HCA 19; 251 CLR 505 Taylors Fashions Ltd v Liverpool Victoria Trustees Co Ltd [1982] 1 QB 133 The "Stolt Loyalty" [1993] 2 Lloyds Rep 281 The "Stolt Loyalty" [1995] 1 Lloyds Rep 598 (CA) The August Leonhardt [1985] 1 Lloyds Rep 28 Tritton Resources Pty Ltd v Ever Rock Navigation S.A. [2019] FCA 276; 369 ALR 205 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher [1988] HCA 7; 164 CLR 387