Introduction and General Legal Framework
Fuel delivery documents (Bunker Delivery Note), work acceptance forms, and service forms, sealed and signed by the ship’s captain, constitute primary evidence for the proof of a claim in maritime commercial law. Judicial decisions indicate that these documents have high probative value, especially in proving that fuel was delivered to the vessel and that the service was performed, but they are generally supported by invoices, commercial ledger records, and customs documents for full proof of a claim.
1. Probative Value of Delivery Documents and the Captain’s Authority
The Court of Cassation and regional courts of justice emphasize the ship captain’s authority to conduct transactions for the vessel’s needs outside its home port, in accordance with Article 1104 of the Turkish Commercial Code (TCC), and accept documents signed by the captain as conclusive evidence.
Court of Cassation 11th Civil Chamber (2021/4174 E., 2022/6152 : The court deemed the presence of the ship’s seal and the captain’s signature on the order confirmation and fuel supply documents sufficient to prove that the fuel request was made by the captain and that the delivery took place.
Istanbul Regional Court of Justice, 12th Civil Chamber (2020/1470 E., 2021/300 K.): Rejecting the claim that the order forms signed by the captain constituted an “authorization procedure,” it affirmed that these documents were sufficient to prove the claim within the scope of Article 1104 of the TCC and established the shipowner’s liability.
Istanbul 17th Civil Court of Commerce (2017/397 E., 2020/242 K K.): It accepted the signature and seal of the captain/chief engineer on the fuel delivery record as sufficient evidence proving that the delivery took place, provided no counter-evidence was presented.
Istanbul 17th Civil Court of Commerce (2023/348 E., 2024/303 K.): Despite there being no record in the defendant’s commercial ledgers, it deemed the ship’s stamp and captain-signed documents sufficient to prove delivery and ruled in favor of the claim.
2. Evaluation of Work Delivery and Service Forms
Service forms and work delivery documents are used, particularly, in proving technical services and maintenance provided to the vessel.
Istanbul 17th Civil Court of Commerce (2015/502 E., 2019/497 K K.): For invoices containing service slips with the captain’s stamp and signature, it was accepted that the service was rendered; however, for items where these documents were absent, it was concluded that the proof was insufficient. This situation demonstrates that service forms play a critical role in confirming that work has been performed.
Supreme Court 11th Civil Chamber (2013/2434 E., 2013/3921 K K.): It deemed the dispatch note bearing the ship’s seal sufficient for proving fuel delivery and for granting a precautionary attachment order.
3. Sufficiency of Documents Alone and Supporting Elements
In general, the decisions show that captain-signed documents proved the “delivery,” but were evaluated together with other documents to fully determine the “amount and legal nature of the receivable.”
Support with Official Records: Istanbul 17th Civil Court of Commerce (2019/166 E. ) stated that proof was provided “beyond doubt” by evaluating the delivery documents alongside customs records, Port Authority confirmation, and Transit Accompanying Documents.
Commercial Books: In many decisions (e.g., Istanbul 17th Civil Court of Commerce 2021/111 E. K), in addition to captain-signed receipts, the fact that invoices were recorded in the defendant’s commercial books played a key role in the finalization of the receivable.
Lack of Signature and Seal: Istanbul 17th Civil Court of Commerce (2020/357 E.) considered the presence of the ship’s seal on the documents, even without a signature, and the defendant’s non-denial of the fundamental relationship, as sufficient to prove the receivable.
Conclusion According to judicial decisions; fuel delivery documents and service forms sealed by the ship’s captain constitute strong evidence that the delivery and service performance have been completed. These documents are considered sufficient for proof, especially in cases where the defendant does not deny the underlying relationship or where transactions are based on the captain’s authority. However, if there is a dispute regarding the liquidity and exact amount of the receivable, courts tend to evaluate these documents as a whole with invoices, customs records, and commercial ledgers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kaptan imzalı Bunker Delivery Note (BDN) alacağı ispatlamak için yeterli midir?
Çoğu durumda evet, ancak tek başına her zaman kesin sonuç doğurmaz.
Yargıtay ve Bölge Adliye Mahkemeleri, gemi kaptanının imzasını ve gemi mührünü taşıyan BDN’leri, yakıtın gemiye fiilen teslim edildiğinin güçlü bir karinesi olarak kabul etmektedir. Özellikle karşı taraf teslimatı açıkça inkâr edemiyorsa veya güçlü bir karşı delil sunamıyorsa, bu belgeler alacağın varlığı için yeterli görülmektedir. Bununla birlikte, alacağın tam miktarı, faiz hesapları ve ticari ilişki açısından fatura ve ticari defter kayıtlarıyla desteklenmesi ispat gücünü artırmaktadır.
Fatura veya ticari defter kaydı yoksa kaptan imzalı belgeler yine de geçerli olur mu?
Belirli koşullarda evet. Bazı yargı kararlarında, davalının ticari defterlerinde kayıt bulunmamasına rağmen, gemi kaşesi ve kaptan imzasını taşıyan belgeler teslimatın ispatı için yeterli kabul edilmiştir. Mahkemeler, deniz ticaretinin doğası gereği fiili teslimi esas almakta; özellikle gemi mührü, kaptan imzası ve temel ilişkinin inkâr edilmemesi halinde, salt defter kaydı yokluğunu alacağın reddi için yeterli görmemektedir.
Gemi kaptanının yakıt siparişi verme ve teslim belgelerini imzalama yetkisi var mıdır?
Evet. Türk Ticaret Kanunu m. 1104 uyarınca gemi kaptanı, bağlama limanı dışında geminin zorunlu ihtiyaçları için işlem yapmaya yetkilidir. Yakıt ikmali, geminin seyrini ve işletilmesini doğrudan ilgilendiren zorunlu bir ihtiyaçtır. Bu nedenle kaptan tarafından imzalanan yakıt teslim belgeleri, donatanı ve işleteni bağlayıcı nitelik taşır. Uygulamada “kaptan sadece prosedür imzaladı” savunması çoğu kez kabul edilmemektedir.
Why is Expert Legal Support Necessary?
Although fuel delivery documents (BDN), service and job completion forms possess strong evidentiary power, whether these documents constitute a maritime claim, whether they give rise to a maritime lien (or ship creditor’s right), and whether the shipowner or another party is responsible are evaluated separately in each specific case. Incorrect legal classification can lead to the rejection of the claim or the failure of the interim attachment request.
Especially in fuel and technical service disputes observed in Istanbul ports and the Tuzla region; the captain’s authority, signature-seal validity, the approximate evidentiary threshold, and the correct structuring of supporting evidence require expertise. An experienced lawyer in maritime commercial law makes it possible to both correctly prove the claim and ensure effective legal protection (interim attachment, statutory lien) on the ship.
