IBRAHIM ADAMS AND SAMUEL LEE BAIDOO vs. DELMAS SHIPPING GHANA LTD [2016]DLHC6297

Date	2016-03-23
Suit No.	RPC/316/12
Citation No.	[2016]DLHC6297

JUSTICE JENNIFER A. DODOO (MRS)

ANDREW KUDZO VORTIA FOR PLAINTIFF

OSAFO-BUABENG FOR DEFENDANT

[2016]DLHC6297
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >IBRAHIM ADAMS AND SAMUEL
LEE BAIDOO<o:p></o:p>{PLAINTIFF}<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>DELMAS SHIPPING GHANA
LTD<o:p></o:p>{DEFENDANT}<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT (COMMERCIAL DIVISION),
ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<h1 align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%;border:none;
mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">RPC/316/12&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; DATE: 23RD MARCH 2016<o:p></o:p></h1>

</div>COUNSEL: <o:p></o:p>ANDREW
KUDZO VORTIA FOR PLAINTIFF<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

OSAFO-BUABENG
FOR DEFENDANT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>JUSTICE
JENNIFER A. DODOO (MRS) JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;border-right:none;
padding:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%;
border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:
solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
Plaintiffs’ claim against the Defendant was for the sum of €85,300.00 or its
cedi equivalent together with interest being the cost and freight value of
goods consigned by the 1st Plaintiff to the 2nd Plaintiff
on vessel CMA CGM CORTES from Spain.&nbsp; The
Plaintiffs also put in a claim for damages for negligence and/or fundamental
breach of contract of carriage.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It
was the Plaintiffs’ case as set out in their Statement of Claim that the 1st
Plaintiff was the owner and consignor of goods shipped under a bill of lading
No. ES1346710 from Barcelona, Spain on 13th July 2011 for delivery
at the Port of Tema to the 2nd Plaintiff<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
Defendant was described as the shipping agent representing CMA CGM SA, owners
of CMA CGM CORTES, a ship operating cargo services between Europe and West
Africa.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>According
to the Plaintiff, the Carrier acknowledged the cargo on board its vessel as
being in good order and condition.&nbsp; The
Plaintiff listed a number of goods said to be on board the vessel with a total
value of €85,300.00.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>However,
upon delivery, the goods had been damaged by sea water.&nbsp; According to the Plaintiff, a Cargo/Container
Survey indicated that the damage to the cargo was caused by leakage of sea
water into the cargo.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
Defendant in its defence contended that the goods on board the vessel consisted
of 1 Renault Modelo Kangoo,&nbsp; 1 Incubadora
and personal effects only.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
Defendant also contended that the contract of carriage evidenced by the bill of
lading was a straight one and therefore non-negotiable.&nbsp; That being the case, the Defendant argued
that the 1st Plaintiff had no rights under the bill of lading and
therefore had no locus standi to commence and maintain the instant action.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
Defendant also submitted that it was only the agent for the carrier at the
point of discharge and therefore was not liable for the acts of its Principal
during the sea voyage as that was outside the scope of its engagement.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
issues settled for trial were:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1">Whether
 or not the 1st Plaintiff is the owner of the consignment
 shipped under the bill of lading no. ES13467 from Barcelona, Spain on 13th
 July 2011 for delivery to the 2nd Plaintiff at the Port of
 Tema.<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1">Whether
 or not the 1st Plaintiff has capacity to commence and maintain
 the instant action?<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1">Whether
 or not the consignment comprised the various items listed in paragraph 5
 of the Statement of Claim?<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1">Whether
 or not the carrier acknowledged the shipment on board its vessel in good
 order and condition?<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1">Whether
 or not the carrier was under a duty as bailee and as carrier for reward
 and/or under contract of carriage to take reasonable care of</main>