WILLIAMS v MARINE MINISTERIAL HOLDING CORPORATION [1999] NSWCA 302

New South Wales Court of Appeal CITATION : WILLIAMS v MARINE MINISTERIAL HOLDING CORPORATION [1999] NSWCA 302 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40594/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 11 August 1999 JUDGMENT DATE : 27 August 1999

PARTIES : John Williams - Appellant Marine Ministerial Holdings Corporation - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Sheller JA at 2; Stein JA at 37

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court - Common Law Division LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 14352/89 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER : Bruce J

COUNSEL : V R W Gray - Appellant P E King/M J Watts - Respondent SOLICITORS : Koutsantoni & Associates - Appellant I V Knight - Respondent CATCHWORDS : CONTRACT - where option to renew - whether renewal could be inferred from conduct ; CONTRACT - conventional estoppel ACTS CITED : Maritime Services Act 1935 CASES CITED: Con-Stan Industries of Australia Pty Limited v Norwich Winterthur Insurance (Australia) Limited (1986) 160 CLR 226 Eslea Holdings Limited v Butts (1989) 6 NSWLR 175 DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs

THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES COURT OF APPEAL CA 40594/98 CL 14352/89 MASON P SHELLER JA STEIN JA

WILLIAMS v MARINE MINISTERIAL HOLDING CORPORATION

In 1986 the appellant and the respondent entered into an contract under which the appellant agreed to supply anchored buoys for the use of the respondent. In return the respondent would allow the appellant to place advertising on the buoys The contract was of one year's duration, with provision for a renewal of the contract for a further five years if the respondent was satisfied with the operation of the buoys and an option for the appellant to renew for a further five years.