Expert legal advice in uncertain waters

Written by legal experts, Clyde & Co's Shipping Newsletter is a regular publication which reports recent legal developments within the marine sector.

In this issue:

  • The "SANKO MINERAL" – Claim in rem issued following a court order to sell vessel held to be valid – by Peter Ward A party with a statutory right to an admiralty claim in rem, which had issued its claim after the Admiralty court had ordered the sale of a vessel, did not lose its right to enforce it
  • The "NISSOS AMORGOS" - Court dismisses P&I Club's claim for indemnity from the IOPC Fund 1971 – by Maurice Thompson and Joel Cockerell The English High Court held that the 1971 International Oil Pollution Fund was immune from a P&I Club's claim for indemnity as there was no contract between the parties that amounted to a loan or a transaction for the provision of finance
  • The "GOLDEN ENDURANCE" – Court considers anti-suit injunction against Moroccan proceedings – by Simon Culhane and Conor McStravick The Court held that it was at least seriously arguable that an English law clause contained in an unsigned charterparty was incorporated into bills of lading, thus allowing for English proceedings to continue where there were associated foreign proceedings
  • Recast Brussels Regulation – EU Regulation 1215/2012 – by Marcia Perucca New rules on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters apply in the EU from 10 January 2015
  • Emission Controlled Areas – New regulations for 2015 – by Martyn Haines From 1 January 2015, all vessels operating in emission controlled areas are prohibited from burning fuel with a sulphur content of more than 0.1%

What's new?

  • The "LONGCHAMP" – Expenses incurred negotiating down a pirates' ransom demand allowable in general average – by Andrew Nicholas and Stephanie Morton
  • The "CHANNEL RANGER" – The Court of Appeal confirms some flexibility is to be retained over the incorporation of Law and Jurisdiction charterparty clauses into negotiable bills of lading – by Andrew Bicknell and Jennifer Wheeler
  • Ebola: Effects on shipping – by Ed Mills-Webb and Harriet Thornton
  • New US sanctions against North Korea – by Douglas Maag
  • President Obama announces significant easing of Cuba sanctions – by Douglas Maag
  • EU clarifies its sanctions against Russia – by John Whittaker

THE "SANKO MINERAL" – CLAIM IN REM ISSUED FOLLOWING A COURT ORDER TO SELL VESSEL HELD TO BE VALID

By Peter Ward

A party with a statutory right to an admiralty claim in rem, which had issued its claim after the Admiralty court had ordered the sale of a vessel, did not lose its right to enforce the claim1. The claim in rem could be enforced against the sale proceeds provided that the person liable in personam was the beneficial owner of the sale proceeds.

Facts

The Defendant, Sanko Mineral (Sanko), owner of the MV "SANKO MINERAL" (the Vessel), applied for the strike out or withdrawal of a caution against release of the sale proceeds of the Vessel, which had been requested by Glencore, and for payment out of the same proceeds of sale.

The Vessel was the subject of various attachments, in Baltimore, by Sanko's creditors , and was thus delayed on her voyage from Bulgaria to New Orleans, whilst carrying Glencore's cargo. On 7 May 2012, while the Vessel was delayed, Glencore commenced a claim in the local court for breach of contract of carriage. It was Glencore's position that, as a consequence, it obtained a maritime lien over the Vessel. Pursuant to the charterparty, any claim would be deemed to be absolutely disbarred unless made to an arbitrator within 12 months of cargo discharge. Such claim was never made. The Vessel was released from its attachments on 2 August 2012, having been delayed by almost four months.

Meanwhile, Sanko petitioned in Tokyo for the commencement of insolvency proceedings and, thereafter, entered into reorganisation proceedings on 23 July 2012. The English court recognised those proceedings as the main foreign proceedings under the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006. Glencore subsequently submitted two claims in those proceedings which were rejected by Sanko's Trustee. Glencore petitioned against that decision, and these petitions remained outstanding at the time of this hearing.

A reorganisation plan was approved on 17 October 2013, under which the Trustee was to sell Sanko's vessels, and the proceeds of sale were then to be paid in satisfaction of the secured reorganisation claims. Glencore's claims were, at the time of the hearing, still pending, and as such Glencore had not yet accrued a right to be paid out of the proceeds of sale.

In 2014, the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd (the Bank), which held a mortgage on the Vessel, issued an in rem claim in the English Admiralty court, and the Vessel was arrested in May 2014. The Bank subsequently obtained judgment on its claim, and the sale of the Vessel was advertised.

Glencore maintained that its alleged maritime lien, or its statutory lien in Japanese law, took priority over the Bank's mortgage. On 22 August 2014, it applied to commence an in rem claim against the Vessel, and requested the issue of a caution against the release of the proceeds of sale. The Trustee subsequently applied to have the caution struck out, or withdrawn, on the grounds that (i) Glencore had not commenced an arbitration within 12 months of discharge, and (ii) as Glencore had not issued an in rem claim form before the Vessel had been sold, it was no longer able to enforce its claim in rem pursuant to the Senior Courts Act 1981 s.21(4), which required that when the action was brought, the person liable in personam had to be the beneficial owner of the vessel.

Decision

The time bar issue

The court held that there was no doubt that in English law Glencore's claim was barred. However, the court decided that it would not be appropriate to determine the question of whether Glencore could advance its claim in Tokyo notwithstanding its failure to have commenced arbitration. That was found to be a matter for the Tokyo court.

The in rem claim issue

It was accepted that the English court would recognise and give effect to a judgment in the Tokyo court, pursuant to either the principles governing the recognition of insolvency proceedings, or the provisions of the Cross-Border insolvency Regulations, or the ordinary English rules of private international law.

However, there remained the question of whether Glencore's was a claim in rem. On that question, the court found that it was not an in rem claim within the meaning of the order for the sale of the Vessel.

The court, therefore, had to consider whether a claimant with a statutory right of action in rem may enforce that claim against the proceeds of sale of the Vessel, notwithstanding that the Vessel had been sold by order of the Admiralty court, and no action in rem had been commenced before the sale. The court had regard to the established principle that when a vessel is sold by the Admiralty Court, rights in rem are transferred to the proceeds of sale. By contrast, where a vessel is sold by an individual, a maritime lien can be enforced against the vessel in the hands of the new owner. The court noted that the operation of s. 21 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 (SCA) must be understood in this context.

On considering the relevant principles, the court held that where the person liable in personam is the beneficial owner of the proceeds of sale he is to be regarded as the beneficial owner of the vessel for the purposes of section 21(4) SCA. That conclusion was reached because of:

  1. The long established principle of Admiralty law that when a vessel was sold by the Admiralty Court, rights in rem were transferred to the sale proceeds
  2. The reflection of that principle in CPR r.61.10(2)(a) concerning notices of sale by the court, and in PD 61 para.3.6(3) which provided that a claim was not served on the vessel but was to be filed at court
  3. The fact that orders pursuant to CPR 61.10(2)(a) were intended to protect, not harm, the interests of those with rights in rem; and
  4. The need to interpret the court's order pursuant to CPR 61.10(2)(a) in a manner that was not misleading

Therefore, it was found that Glencore had not lost its statutory right of action in rem, although in light of the Court's finding on the arbitration point, Glencore's claim for breach of the contract of carriage was absolutely barred.

Payment out

Ordinarily, the court's findings would lead to an order for payment out to the Trustee. However, as Teare J noted, the reorganisation in Tokyo had been recognised as the foreign main proceeding, and the court did not wish to hinder those proceedings. The court stated that it would only be willing to make payment out on terms that the Trustee kept the proceeds of sale in a separate account and held them to the order of the Tokyo court.

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Footnote

1. Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd (Claimant) v Sanko Mineral (Defendant) and Glencore Limited (Cautioner) – sub nom The "SANKO MINERAL" [2014]

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.