To Rule B or Not to Rule B

Unfortunately for maritime litigants around the world, the US Courts have recently determined that it is no longer going to be as effective.

The Development of Rule B Attachments

The transient nature of international shipping and marine commerce has encouraged the evolution of mechanisms unique to Admiralty and Maritime law for ensuring the availability of sufficient security for prospective claims against the carrier and, to a less marked extent, against charterers and/ or cargo interests.

These mechanisms, sought on an ex parte basis, are legitimately employed to secure and preserve assets against which any Judgment or Award can then be enforced; they are also less scrupulously used to apply pressure on or exert leverage against an intransigent party in order to stimulate and expedite settlement.