White Rock Corporation Ltd v Middle Volga Shipping Company & Ors

White Rock Corporation Ltd v Middle Volga Shipping Company & Ors

Middle Volga was not a party to the Charterparty; documentary evidence and surrounding circumstances establish North Global as the contracting party; Charterers failed to establish a good arguable case that Middle Volga was bound by the English jurisdiction clause; Court has no jurisdiction over Middle Volga under CPR rule 6.33(2B).

Parties
Claimant: WHITE ROCK CORPORATION LTD; First Defendant: MIDDLE VOLGA SHIPPING COMPANY; Second Defendant: NORTH GLOBAL DENIZCILIK ITHALAT VE IHRACAT TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
08 July 2025
Procedural Posture
Commercial Claim / Ruling on Jurisdictional Challenge
Outcome
Application allowed; Court has no jurisdiction over First Defendant.
Legal Topics
Jurisdiction, Charterparty Disputes, Agency, Undisclosed Principal, Service Out of Jurisdiction
Commercial Law Maritime Law Civil Procedure Jurisdiction Charterparty Disputes Agency Undisclosed Principal Service Out of Jurisdiction

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Parties

WHITE ROCK CORPORATION LTD

Claimant

MIDDLE VOLGA SHIPPING COMPANY

First Defendant

NORTH GLOBAL DENIZCILIK ITHALAT VE IHRACAT TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI

Second Defendant

Procedural Posture

Commercial Claim / Ruling on Jurisdictional Challenge

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Middle Volga was a party to the Charterparty and bound by the English jurisdiction clause
  2. 2 Whether the Charterers have a good arguable case for jurisdiction under CPR rule 6.33(2B)
  3. 3 Application of agency and undisclosed principal doctrines in charterparty context

Ratio Decidendi

Middle Volga was not a party to the Charterparty; documentary evidence and surrounding circumstances establish North Global as the contracting party; Charterers failed to establish a good arguable case that Middle Volga was bound by the English jurisdiction clause; Court has no jurisdiction over Middle Volga under CPR rule 6.33(2B).

Court Disposition

Application allowed; Court has no jurisdiction over First Defendant.

Orders

  • Declaration that the Court has no jurisdiction to try the claim against Middle Volga Shipping Company.
  • Claim against Middle Volga Shipping Company dismissed.