Opinion ID: 559879
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Partial Final Award

Text: 9 At the arbitration hearing on December 18, the parties asked the arbitrators to make an immediate determination as to liability for cancellation of the fourth voyage, leaving for a later time the calculation of damages, if any, for that voyage and demurrage for the first three voyages. Counsel for Trade outlined Trade's understanding of the purpose of the hearing, stating as follows: 10 I don't think it is necessary to go so far as to physically render an award, because I think there are areas here that cannot in fact be determined today, dollars and cents damage amounts, but I think findings can be made with regard to the issue of liability, reserving for a future time or a future hearing the actual physical calculation of the dollars and cents amounts that might be involved. Counsel for NPC agreed: 11 There are two claims in this Arbitration. One claim is that the Charterer, NPCI, breached the Contract of Affreightment with respect to wrongful cancellation of the NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS for voyage number 4. That is a cancellation problem.... 12 The second issue is, is the Charterer, NPCI, responsible for demurrage.... 13 I am not in the position tonight to comment on demurrage. I don't think the Arbitrators need to sit on a Friday night to consider a claim for demurrage.... 14 .... 15 What I think the Arbitrators can do tonight is to deal with the root problem that led to this Arbitration going forward on the basis that it did. That is to say, they [Trade] have contended that the vessel was wrongfully cancelled.... 16 .... 17 The question of cancellation is a straightforward question. You can consider whether the vessel was tendered within the proper time or not, and you can decide that issue. 18 .... 19 The question to detain us in which I hope you can answer was the vessel rightfully cancelled? [sic ] And I am prepared to proceed on that basis. 20 The arbitration panel acceded to the parties' request. It proceeded immediately to hear evidence and argument, and rendered its decision on liability on that day (December 1981 Award), stating that it had agreed to render a partial final award immediately because counsel for both parties have so requested. 21 In the December 1981 Award, the panel unanimously found that NPC had fail[ed] to provide [Trade] with a fourth cargo under the contract, and it therefore found NPC liable for any damages flowing from the cancellation of the fourth voyage.