Zurich American Insurnce v. Team Tankers A.S.

JOSÉ A. CABRANES, Circuit Judge:

This appeal presents two questions. The first, which we dispose of in relatively short order, is whether the District Court erred in confirming an arbitration award. The second, which merits fuller discussion, is whether the party that prevailed in arbitration was entitled, by contract or statute, to recoup the fees and costs it incurred in seeking to confirm the arbitral award before the District Court.

Petitioners-appellants are Zurich American Insurance Co. (“Zurich”) and Vinmar International, Ltd. (“Vinmar”) (jointly, the “petitioner” or the “shipper”). The…