The Kerala High Court in an admiralty suit filed by the Chennai-based Tradex Shipping Company Pvt Ltd, has arrested the passenger vessel m.v. Amet Majesty, which is in berthed at Kochi Port.
The petitioner company was registered with International Maritime Organization (IMO) and a license has been issued by the Director General of Shipping for recruitment placing service with international safety management to supply crew members, including that of the Captain, Chief Engineer and other officers on agreed terms.
Even though the petitioner has raised appropriate commercial invoices for manning the crew members for the vessel, the owners of the vessel failed to settle the same, owing to their financial contingencies.
It was alleged in the admiralty suit that the owners of the vessel had failed to remit the Sea Men’s Provident Fund and administrative charges to the Sea Men’s Provident Fund Commissioner.
The Director General of Shipping had initiated coercive steps against the Chennai-based company, which prompted them to invoke the admiralty jurisdiction of the Kerala High Court and get the vessel arrested today.
The total maritime claim over the passenger vessel is Rs 51,30,251.
The court directed the Deputy Conservator of the port to arrest the vessel till the owners of the vessel furnish the bank guarantee of the claim amount before the Registrar of the High Court of Kerala.
Keywords: failiure to remit Sea Men’s Provident Fund, Kerala High Court, admiralty suit, Tradex Shipping Company, arrest of passenger vessel m.v. Amet Majesty,
