Higman Marine Services, Inc. v. BP Amoco Chemical Co.

ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR STAY OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS

KENT, District Judge.

I. FACTUAL SUMMARY

Some twenty-two months ago, on January 1, 1998, Plaintiffs Higman Marine Services, Inc., Higman Barge Lines, Inc., and Maryland Marine, Inc. (hereinafter “Hig-man” or “Plaintiffs”) and Defendant BP Amoco Chemical Company (“BP Amoco”) entered into a maritime Contract of Af-freightment (“COA”) whereby Plaintiffs’ vessels would carry Defendant’s cargoes. In August 1998, pursuant to the COA, Defendant issued an order for Plaintiffs to carry 20,000 barrels of paraxylene from Decatur, Aabama to…