Egyptian ship ‘arrested’ in Paradip on HC order

Kendrapada: An Egyptian cargo ship was ‘arrested’ in Paradip port on Friday as per the order of Orissa high court over a dispute on supply of low sulfur marine gas oil to a global trader of marine fuel. The ship anchored in Paradip on Aug 5 from Chittagong port in Bangladesh to pick up iron ore.
A single-judge bench (admiralty jurisdiction) of Justice V Narasingh on Aug 14 directed the court of Kujang to execute the warrant of arrest against the cargo vessel for for not paying Rs 3.96 crore to the trader under Rule 12 of Orissa High Court Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Rules, 2020.
“Acting on the order of the high court, the civil judge (senior division), Kujang, issued an arrest warrant against the ship. The magistrate with the help of police arrested the ship in the harbour and directed the captain not to leave the port without obtaining permission from the court,” said DSP Santosh Jena.
Earlier, the trader prayed before the HC to pass a decree in its favour due to supply of 548.093 MT of very low sulfur marine gas oil a few months back.
Prima facie, the high court is satisfied that the claim is maintainable against the cargo vessel after hearing the lawyers of both parties.