The decision of the Admiralty Court handed down this week in
Holyhead Marina v. Peter Farrer [2020] EWHC 1750 (Admlty) considers
interesting and significant issues concerning limitation of
liability that will be of great interest to owners, insurers and
users of docks and marinas. The successful Claimants (the marina
owners seeking to limit their liability) were represented by Emma
Rice of Clyde & Co and her team based in Manchester.
Background
In March 2018 a severe storm struck Holyhead Marina in North
Wales with devastating effect: the marina itself suffered a
catastrophic breakdown and some 89 craft that had been moored at
the facility were either sunk or damaged. The potential claims of
the vessel owners and their insurers against the marina were
estimated to total some £5 million and were said to be based
on allegations that the design, construction and maintenance of the
marina were defective.
