Page 37 - Insurance Times April 2024

MV Alina II:

Charterer

Agreement-

Fraud or Bait Dr. Soumi Mukherjee

- Historical Maritime Fraud

"ALINA II was a Bulk Carrier registered and sailing under the flag of Saint Vincent and The
Grenadines. ALINA II was built in 1986. The ship's registered owner, Pompey Shipping Corp, had
chartered the MV Alina II, a bulk carrier to Prima Shipping Company Limited, which in turn had
sub-chartered her to Kumba Shipping Hong Kong Limited, for the carriage of iron ore on a voyage
basis from Saldanha Bay to China."

C harter parties are crucial legal contracts in the the carriage of iron ore on a voyage basis from Saldanha

Bay to China.
realm of international shipping. These agreements
define the rights and responsibilities of both
shipowners and charterers, ensuring smooth
operations during voyages. Drafting a well-written and On 29 October 2009, MV Alina II, berthed at one of the two
berths at the Langebaan terminal at the port of Saldanha
comprehensive charterparty agreement is crucial for Bay, nearly some 150 km north-west of Cape Town, South
ensuring smooth operations in the shipping industry. This Africa and commenced loading a cargo of about 1,75, 902
legally binding document establishes the terms and MT of Sishen iron ore fines. The vessel had completed her
conditions of a charterparty, which is an agreement loading on 31 October 2009. It was then observed that it
between a shipowner (or charterer) and a cargo owner for had taken on a port list, and it was down by the head by
the use of a vessel. about 50 cm. After this discovery, the vessel remained at
the berth until her cargo had been transhipped. This took
In this article, we explore one of the three types of charter time and it could finally leave Saldanha Bay on 27 March
types that primarily exist in the shipping industry. Voyage 2010. Investigations revealed that the Alina II was fractured
Charters- these charters deal with hiring a vessel for a single in the hull and was taking water into the port side double-
journey, and the payment is made for transporting goods bottom ballast tank.
from one port to another.
The Port of Saldanha evidently operates two adjacent quays
ALINA II was a Bulk Carrier registered and sailing under the which are dedicated to the export of iron ore from Sishen
flag of Saint Vincent and The Grenadines. ALINA II was in the Northern Cape. One of those quays was rendered
built in 1986. The ship's registered owner, Pompey Shipping inoperative for several months because of the fact, that the
Corp, had chartered the MV Alina II, a bulk carrier to vessel could not be moved. This resulted in delays in the
Prima Shipping Company Limited, which in turn had sub- export of ore for a lengthy period and the knock-on effects
chartered her to Kumba Shipping Hong Kong Limited, for of the calamity were of epic proportions.

34 April 2024 The Insurance Times