Richard Gunn, the leading partner in Reed Smith’s Casualty and Admiralty team, sheds light on the intricacies of salvage operations amidst the recent Court of Appeal decision in Smit Salvage BV & Ors v Luster Maritime SA & Anr (The ‘Ever Given’). The case vividly illustrates the challenges of negotiating contracts in rapidly changing environments, particularly within the maritime domain. As the judgment delves into the blurred lines between offer and acceptance in contract law, it underscores the significance of clear communication and the unique nature of salvage operations.
The Court of Appeal decision
The Court of Appeal decision in Smit Salvage BV & Ors v Luster Maritime SA & Anr (The ‘Ever Given’) highlights the challenges of negotiating contracts in rapidly changing environments, particularly in cases involving maritime casualties. Attempting to finalize a contract amidst such fluid circumstances can lead to uncertainties and legal disputes, as demonstrated in this case.
The judgment underscores the widely recognized appropriateness of the Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) in situations of maritime risk. Smit, the salvor, initially proposed utilizing LOF but was open to promptly entering into a commercial contract to regulate their position. However, the contract was never actually agreed.
Despite the absence of a formal contract, Smit proceeded with salvage operations after the Suez Canal Authority’s (SCA) earlier attempts had failed. By salvaging and refloating the vessel, Smit provided a service to the owners without a “contract” of any description but under common law salvage provisions. The legal action initiated thereafter could be viewed as a distraction from the essential service rendered in salvaging the ship.
The judgment leaves open the question of what the court will ultimately award for the services provided. These considerations will be based on principles outlined in Article 13 of the Salvage Convention. While the specifics of the award remain to be determined, it is anticipated to align with established international salvage principles.
Main points of the judgement
The issue addressed by the courts was not primarily about the salvage operation itself, but rather about the principles of offer and acceptance in contract law. Despite the salvage context, the legal dispute primarily revolved around the formation of a binding contract.
The judgment underscores the unique nature of salvage operations, where assistance is rendered to vessels in distress without the presence of a pre-existing contract. This highlights the distinction between salvage, which is based on the principle of rendering assistance in emergencies, and contractual agreements, which require formal offer, acceptance, and consideration.
While LOF confirms that the services provided under it are salvage in nature, Wreck Hire contracts, by contrast, are essentially agreements not to provide salvage services. SCOPIC (the Special Compensation P&I Clause) assists with the global negotiation of such contracts by providing a ready-made set of rates for personnel and equipment. Such rates no longer need to be negotiated other than by a percentage uplift.
The judges all confirmed that on analysis of the exchanges, the offers by SMIT were all offers requiring agreement on more terms than just remuneration. The main terms of their offers included detail on the nature of services, standard of care and payment terms. The court found that the owners did not confirm these terms explicitly at any stage.
Despite SMIT’s repeated offers, the owners rejected them on multiple occasions. SMIT, in response, emphasized their willingness to proceed promptly under agreed terms, or alternatively revert to LOF terms. The sequence of correspondence demonstrates SMIT’s efforts to establish a clear contractual arrangement and the continuing nature of such discussions.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the courts concluded that, based on the written exchanges, the owners failed to demonstrate an unequivocal intention to be bound by the terms proposed by SMIT. This finding underscores the importance of clear and unambiguous communication in contract formation, particularly in complex and evolving situations such as salvage operations.
