SABA INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING AND PROJECT INVESTMENT PVT LTD Vs. OWNERS AND PARTIES INTERESTED IN VESSEL M V BRAVE EAGLE PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS M V LIMA I

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This admiralty suit has been filed by one Saba International Shipping & Project Investment Pvt Ltd. in respect of its claim arising out of the supply of provisions made to M.V, LIMA II. The case in the plaint is that the plaintiff has incurred expenses for supply of fresh water, garbage collection, overseas telephone calls etc. and also for the medical treatment for the crew. It has been stated in para 7 of the plaint itself that the expenses incurred by the plaintiff and goods supplied and services rendered to the said vessel M.V.LIMA II were in the nature of necessaries supplied to the said vessel. It has also been stated that the plaintiff incurred other expenses on behalf of the said vessel towards payment of Port dues and for stevedoring expenses/ charges. The plaintiff's case is that the defendant No.3 from time to time requested the plaintiff to supply further provisions to the ship and the plaintiff further asserts that defendant No.3 admitted its liability. On account of such services rendered and supplies made, the plaintiff submitted its disbursement account No A/152/01 dated 2nd May 2001 to the defendant No.3 for U.S. $ 85,747.02. The defendant No.3 could not make payment of the dues to the plaintiff but the defendant No.3 has represented to the plaintiff that pursuant to an agreement dated 7th April 2001 entered between the defendant No.1 and one Suvino International, Mumbai, India, the defendant No.2 fixed cargo at the Port of Kandla in India to carry bagged salt to Philippines and the defendant No.3 agreed to pay the dues of the plaintiff from the freight to be earned by the said vessel M.V. LIMA II from the said prospective voyage to the Port of Kandala. It is the case of the plaintiff that pursuant to such agreement, the plaintiff allowed the defendant No. 2 the owner of the said vesel M.V. LIMA II to leave the Port of Aden.

(2.) Subsequently, the plaintiff came to know that on account of default of defendant No.3 and non-payment of dues to other creditors, an order of arrest was passed against the vessel M.V. LIMA II while the said vessel was in the Port of Kandla. But M.V. LIMA II somehow jumped the order of arrest and the fact remains that defendant No.3 did not pay the plaintiff the outstanding sum of U.S. $ 85,747.02 or any Portion thereof.

(3.) Therefore, the plaintiff is seeking to arrest M.V. LIMA-I which is also owned by the defendant No.3. The said vessel arrived in Calcutta in connection with her voyage. The said vessel was also subjected to an order of arrest for non-payment of dues of her creditors. In order to avoid payment to various creditors, the defendant No. 3 wrongly and illegally changed her name from M.V.LIMA I to M.V. BRAVE EAGLE.