A UK judge has kicked out a claim by a Mexican shipowner against the costs of a newbuilding cancellation following "understandable suspicion" it indulged in "gamesmanship".

The case before Justice Andrew Baker at the commerical court involved Mexico's Exportadora de Sal (ESSA) ordering a self-unloading salt barge from Corretaje Maritimo Sud-Americano (CMSA) in 2014 for $27.24m.

This contract was terminated in 2015 by CMSA following the failure by ESSA to pay the second instalment of the price and its failure to respond to a notice of default sent by CMSA.