Master’s right to reject cargo is restricted

Instead, the master could reject the cargo only if he was unable to resolve any disagreement with the shipper with the way in which he intends to modify the cargo\'s description in the bill of lading, reports The Business Times. The appellant, Sea Success Maritime Inc, had time-chartered its vessel Sea Success to African Maritime Carriers on the New York Produce Exchange Form. The vessel was then further sub-time-chartered on similar terms. During the trip, the master twice refused to accept cargoes because they were damaged. On both occasions the parties resolved the impasse, but the dispute was later referred for arbitration in London. The master justified his refusal to load based on the final sentence of clause 52 of the time charter, which stated that he had \'the right and must reject any cargo that are subject to clausing of the bills of lading\'. Full report in The Business Times