Several other disputes over payment for charter hire during a pirate hijacking may be resolved in the wake of the recent Saldanha judgment in London’s high court.

The UK Defence Club which supported George Economou through a dispute with Cosco Bulk Carrier over the 76,000-dwt bulk carrier Saldanha (built 2004) has welcomed the ruling that the charterer is liable to pay hire during the period a ship is detained by pirates.

UK Defence Club claims director, Alan Mackinnon, says the mutual has two or three similar disputes in the pipeline so the Saldanha ruling must have wide ranging implications for the rest of the shipping industry.

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