Ship Arrest And Security For Release: Court Decision Offers Valuable Insight

Facts

Decision

Comment

A recent decision¹ of the Supreme Court in its first instance admiralty jurisdiction gives valuable insight into the court's approach to applications for the arrest of vessels and for security to be lodged with the court for the release of the vessel.

Facts

The plaintiff, a fish-farming business, was the owner of a number of fish cages that were damaged and destroyed by the ship Friendship as it approached the port of Vasiliko, leading to the loss of the fish that had been kept in the cages. The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday morning, December 1 2012. On the following Monday (December 3 2012) - the date on which the vessel was scheduled to depart - the plaintiff filed an action (26/2012) claiming damages of €7.5 million, together with an application for arrest of the vessel.