Kerala High Court orders arrest of Hong Kong-flagged vessel

The Kerala High Court last week ordered the arrest of a Hong Kong-flagged vessel berthed at Cochin Port, one of the rare occasions when a High Court has invoked admiralty jurisdiction. The Vessel was subsequently released after the shipping line reportedly presented a Letter of Undertaking by a P & I Club. It was also asked to furnish a nationalised bank quarantee of Rs.75 lakh.

The Court had used its powers in response to a petition filed by a company against a line for non-delivery of 1,246 cases of liquor imported from the UK. The consignment had been loaded on to the vessel, but was not delivered to the petitioner. The Shipping line clarified that the said consignment was unloaded at the port of Colombo, for transhipment to Cochin. However, due to an error made by the line's officers in Sri Lanka, the consignment was identified as local, instead of one meant for transshipment. Hence, it wasn't loaded on to the feeder vessel headed to Cochin.

The petitioner, on the other hand, alleged that it was not a mistake but done with the malafide intention of taking the liquor cases out of the terminal, under the guise of an error, for the associates of the line in Sri Lanka. The Customs Department at Colombo had charged the line under the provisions of its Customs Act, and though the line approached the High Court of Sri Lanka for redressal, it didn't get any favourable order, according to reports.

SCI takes delivery of Supramax bulk carrier

The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has accepted delivery of a Supramax bulk carrier, m.v.Vishva Malhar. SCI had in April signed contracts for acquisition of two Supramax bulk carriers on resale basis, which were originally contracted by Grand Yard Investment Pvt. Ltd., China and were under construction at Guoyo Ship yard. The first vessel, m.v.Vishva Vijeta, was delivered early last month.

This vessel has a gross tonnage of 33,032 tonnes and deadweight of 56,616 tonnes. It is classed with BV and IRS and has been built to comply with the latest and most stringent international regulations. The vessel is equipped with the latest camless electronic main engine. As a national carrier, SCI has been aiming to enhance its presence in India's ever increasing dry bulk trade by strengthening its bulk carrier fleet.

The prevailing downturn in the shipbuilding market has thrown up opportunities for acquiring tonnage at attractive prices, and the present acquisition is the result of SCI's preparedness to take advantage of such opportunities. With the addition of this vessel, the company's fleet strength has increased to 80 and its tonnage has attained a historic high of 5.81 million DWT. Acquisition of the vessel is in line with SCI's strategy of maintaining a modern and young fleet. SCI has 30 vessels on order at present and 11 of these are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2011.