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ARTICLE · 01 FEBRUARY 2017

What is a proprietary maritime claim?

Holding Redlich
Holding Redlich
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Holding Redlich

Holding Redlich

Holding Redlich is a large national commercial firm with offices in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney,...

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A reference to a proprietary maritime claim refers to a claim relating to possession or ownership of, or title to a ship.

AustraliaTransport

Wilmington Trust Company (Trustee) v The Ship "Houston" [2016] FCA 1349

This case arose from a dispute between the Owners and Charterer of the "Houston" as to whether the vessel could be properly arrested under the Admiralty Act 1988 (Cth) (the Act). The question to be decided was whether the Owners had a 'proprietary maritime claim' within the meaning of section 4(2) of the Act.

Background of the dispute

In 2010, TBONE chartered the "Houston" for the purpose of, amongst other things, carrying locomotives to be used for mining in Western Australia. On 2 December 2015, the Owners served a notice purporting to terminate the Charterparty due to non-payment of hire.

TBONE countered that the Owners had previously wrongfully arrested the vessel in the US, describing this conduct as "a breach of the covenant of good faith inherent" in the Charterparty, and for this reason gave notice of early redelivery of the "Houston". TBONE also stated that it had paid all hire

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