A project that finished late, with issues over the final account caused, in part, by delays, and with the parties arguing over who was liable for those delays (unsurprisingly, weather was one of the reasons cited, as was asbestos removal).
So far, this sounds like many other construction disputes. However, the contract in Herbosh-Kiere Marine Contractors Ltd v Dover Harbour Board was to remove the remains of a boat sunk to stop torpedoes being fired into Dover harbour during the first world war. It was a wreck-removal agreement, with a lump sum price of almost £1.8 million and with scope for certain extra costs to be priced and paid for. The contractor (Herbosh-Kiere Marine’s) disputed final account claimed just under £4 million. That is a lot of extras. Continue reading