L, the owners of cargo, contracted with a company ("AP") to transport cargo from Brazil to Puerto Cabello, Venezuela and to Houston, Texas at a price of $210,600. AP chartered the vessel BBC Sealand to transport the cargo. The charter agreement between AP and the owners of the BBC Sealand contained a lien provision which said that the shipowners would have a lien on the cargo for freight and all other amounts due under the charter including costs of recovery. The charter agreement also provided that only the vessel owner, master or owner's agent could issue bills of lading. The charter hire was $366,000 payable in a lump sum and the charter agreement stated that the vessel would not leave a loading port until the freight was paid in full.