Office Address
123/A, Miranda City Likaoli Prikano, Dope
Phone Number
+0989 7876 9865 9
+(090) 8765 86543 85
Email Address
info@example.com
example.mail@hum.com
123/A, Miranda City Likaoli Prikano, Dope
+0989 7876 9865 9
+(090) 8765 86543 85
info@example.com
example.mail@hum.com
MV Debi was detained at the multi-purpose berth of the
port on November 30, 2023 after 22 kg of cocaine was seized from the vessel at
Paradip International Cargo Terminal (PICT) at Paradip port. Subsequent to the
seizure, the assistant commissioner, Paradeep Customs Division, ordered that no
movement authorisations be given to the vessel without prior consultation. As the movement of the vessel was
restricted, it was parked at the space provided by Paradip International Cargo
Terminal Pvt. Ltd. However, when the vessel failed to pay the berth hire
charges, Paradip International Cargo Terminal filed an admiralty suit demanding
a sum of Rs.7.95 crore under Section 4(1)(n) of the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and
Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017. Subsequently, the high court ordered
for arrest of the cargo vessel in February last year as it failed to submit the
dues and its auctioning for its failure to pay berth hire and penal berth hire
charges. After the arrest of the vessel, it remained parked at the same space.
Taking on record
the affidavit filed by Paradip International Cargo Terminal citing settlement
between the ship’s owner Asia Pacific Shipping Co Ltd,, the admiralty judge,
justice Murahari Sri Raman said: “The admiralty suit which was filed does not
survive as the matter has been settled between the two parties outside the
court. The admiralty suit has been allowed to be withdrawn taking into
consideration the affidavit filed by Paradip International Cargo Terminal.”
In October last year, the ship’s owner and PICT
entered into a settlement outside the high court after which PICT filed an
affidavit seeking to withdraw the admiralty suit since the dispute had already
been resolved. Considering this submission, the admiralty judge found no reason
to drag the litigation any further in absence of survival of the very cause of
action and accordingly, recalled the order of arrest passed by the court in
February last year. The high court also
asked the ship’s owner to refund court fees of ₹23.87 lakh to PICT.
In December last year and January this year, all the
21 Vietnamese crew members detained by Customs department in MV Debi over drug
smuggling investigation, were released following orders of the Orissa high
court.
