Newsletter For January 2026

ARBITRATION

Date: 07 January 2026

Case Name: Jan De Nul Dredging India Pvt. Ltd. v. Tuticorin Port Trust Civil Appeal of 2026 (arising out of SLP (C) No. 8803 of 2021)

Forum: Supreme Court

The respondent i.e., Tuticorin Port Trust, a statutory authority constituted under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, undertook a significant dredging project titled "Deepening of the Channel and Basin to Cater to 12.80 metre Draught Vessels at Tuticorin Port", aimed at enabling the port to accommodate larger vessels. A Notice Inviting Tender ("NIT") dated 15 July 2009 was issued for execution of the project.

The appellant i.e., Jan De Nul Dredging India Pvt. Ltd., a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 and specialising in complex dredging operations, participated in the tender process. Its bid was accepted, and a work order dated 28 October 2010 was issued. A License Agreement incorporating the tender conditions was executed on 27 December 2010 for a