Unknown Owner of the Vessel M/V · G.R. 195661

Petitioner: Unknown Owner of the Vessel M/V China Joy
Respondent: Asian Terminals
Citation: G.R. No. 195661
Court: Supreme Court
Division: Third Division
Ponente: Reyes, J.
Decided: March 11, 2015

Summary

Asian Terminals Inc.'s cargo unloading equipment was damaged when it encountered a metal bar mixed in soybean meal cargo from vessel M/V China Joy. The Supreme Court held the vessel owner and agents jointly and severally liable for US$30,300.00 in damages under quasi-delict principles, applying the res ipsa loquitur doctrine since the cargo was under defendants' exclusive control during loading. The Court clarified that this was tort liability under the Civil Code rather than maritime law, as there was no contract of carriage and the arrastre operator's functions are not maritime in character. The decision established important precedent on the application of quasi-delict principles in cargo handling disputes and modified interest rate computations following recent jurisprudence.

Statutes applied

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By Intellegal Editorial Board · March 11, 2015

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