• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.617-625
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• 2013

"Sale and purchase brokers" are independent contractors who act as agents for principals intending to seller or buy ships in English Maritime Law. The essential feature is that legal position of shipbroker is largely one of agency. They can be obtained by a study of the Lloyd's Register or the equivalent registers of other Classification Societies, the American Bureau of Shipping and Korean Registers. Such a broker is of valuable assistance to the prospective seller or purchaser. And the broker's liability normally arises in the context of a contract. But, expressed in general terms, those contractual obligations are, in absence of contrary agreement, to act with reasonable care and skilled to obtain the cover requested by his client not to guarantee that such will be concluded and to ensure that the scope of the policy, its essential terms and relevant exclusions are made known to the insured. Acting in this professional capacity, the broker's liability are such that the facts upon which an action for breach of contract may be based may also found an action for the trot of negligence provided that there is shown to be the necessary 'assumption of responsibility' by the broker conveyed directly or indirectly to the insured. This thesis deals with liability of S&P Brokers, the legal problems of ship broking, commission, conflicts of interest and secret commissions in English Maritime Law and the Cases.