Maersk Line is being sued by a group of over 100 insurers and shippers whose cargo was damaged by fire on a boxship in 2015.
As well as damages, the claimants are seeking indemnification against liability for general average and salvage costs, according to court documents seen by TradeWinds.
The claims relate to cargo carried onboard the 8,300-teu Maersk Seoul (built 2006), which suffered a fire and explosion while underway off Oman in August 2015.
The initial claim was filed in the High Court of England and Wales by insurance company Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance (Middle East) and 54 other shippers and insurers in January this year.
Since then, another 53 cargo interests have joined the litigation as claimants, according to an amended complaint filed with the Court on 19 March.
The defendants named in the suit are Maersk Line, the cargo’s contractual carrier, and Neptila Schiffsnetriebsgellschaft, the registered owner of Maersk Seoul.
Details of claim
In the claim document, the claimants say their cargo was damaged, delayed and/or unable to be delivered as a result of the fire onboard the vessel, as well as by the subsequent firefighting efforts while the ship was underway from Saudi Arabia to European ports.
The claim alleges breach of duty and/or negligence by the defendants during the loading, handling, custody, care, discharge and carriage of containers and cargoes onboard Maersk Seoul.
The claimants are seeking $554,770.45 (£421,847.45) in damages plus interest and costs, according to the court document.
They are also claiming against the defendants for indemnity against salvage liability, as well as a declaration that they are not liable to any claim to general average and indemnification against such a claim.
An outcome to the amended claim is awaited.
TradeWinds has contacted Maersk Line for comment.
Insurers push back
Leading cargo insurers told TradeWinds in March they want to be more closely involved in containership fire salvage operations, particularly in the wake of major blazes that have added to insurers' potential liabilities.
Under general average rules, cargo underwriters pay by far the biggest financial contribution and are responsible for appointing salvors.
Four major fires have struck vessels over the past year or so and are estimated to have landed insurers with a potential $700m loss exposure.
Over the past 13 months, major blazes have occurred on the 9,300-teu APL Vancouver (built 2013); 15,262-teu Maersk Honam (built 2017); 7,250-teu Yantian Express (built 2002) and 5,754-teu ER Kobe (built 2001).
