August, 2025 - Sanctions, Screening, and Shipowner Risk: Tonzip Maritime Ltd v 2Rivers PTE Ltd

The Commercial Court’s decision in Tonzip Maritime Ltd v 2Rivers PTE Ltd [2025] EWHC 2036 (Comm) examined whether a shipowner was entitled to refuse to load cargo based on sanctions concerns, and whether its reliance on a sanctions clause was objectively reasonable. The ruling provides guidance on the interpretation of sanctions clauses, the evidentiary burden on shipowners, and the limits of commercial discretion in the face of geopolitical risks and deceptive shipping practices.

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