Client Update May 2009 Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm By Jin Yu-Lai How to arrest ships in China g n o R i a In accordance with “Special Maritime Procedure Law of PRC” going into Contents: Lawful Maritime claims 1 effect as of July 1, 2000 and “Interpretations of the Supreme People's The scope of the ships maybe 3 Court on Some Issues concerning the Application of Special Maritime Arrested The procedures of arrest of 3 Procedure Law of PRC” going into effect as of February 1, 2003, K preservation of maritime claims means the compulsory measures adopted Ships Consequent Lawsuit 5 by a maritime court on the application of a maritime claimant against the Some successful case handled by Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm 5 property of the person against whom a claim is made, for the purpose of g n o -i R Appendix 7 ensuring fulfillment of the claim of the maritime claimant. The property of the person against whom a claim is made includes the ships. So a maritime claimant is entitled to apply to the maritime court for arresting the related ships in China. a K Lawful Maritime claims related to arresting ships With respect to the following maritime claims, an application may be made for the arrest of a ship: (1) loss of or damage to property caused by ship operation; (2) loss of life or personal injury in direct connection with ship operation; (3) salvage at sea; (4) damage or threat of damage caused by ship to environment, coast or relevant interested persons; measures adopted to prevent, diminish or eliminate such damage; compensation paid for such damage; expenses for reasonable measures actually adopted or to be adopted to restore environment; losses caused by such damage to or likely to a third party; and damage, expenses or losses of a similar nature as those specified in this subparagraph; (5) expenses related to re-floating, removal, reclamation or destroying of a sunken ship, wreck, aground ship, abandoned ship or to making them harmless, including the expenses related to refloating, removal, reclamation or destroying of the things which have or no longer remained on board the ship or to making them harmless and expenses related to maintaining of an abandoned ship and her crew; (6) agreement in respect of employment or charting of a ship; g n o R i a (7) agreement in respect of carriage of goods or passengers; (8) cargo (including luggage) carried by a ship or loss or damage relating thereto; (9) general average; g n o -i R (10) towage; (11) pilotage; K (12)providing of supplies or rendering of services in respect of ship operation, management, maintenance or repair; a K (13)Construction, re-construction, repair, refurbishment or equipment of a ship; (14) dues or expenses for ports, canals, docks, harbours or other waterways; (15)crew’s wages and other moneys, including repatriation expenses and social insurance premium payable for the crew; (16)expenses paid for a ship or a ship-owner; (17)insurance premium for a ship (including protection and indemnity calls) payable by or paid for a ship-owner or bareboat charterer; 2 Client Update (18) commission, brokage or agency fee related to ships payable by or paid for a shipowner or bareboat charterer; (19) a dispute over ownership or possession of a ship; (20) a dispute between joint owners of a ship over the employment or earnings of the ship; (21) ship mortgage or rights of a similar nature; and g n (22) a dispute arising out of a ship sale contract. The scope of the ships maybe arrested o R i a The maritime court may arrest ships owned, at the time of arrest, by the ship-owner, bareboat charterer, time charterer or voyage charterer who is liable for the maritime claim, except for claims related to ownership or possession of a ship (in such circumstances only the concerned ship can be arrested). No ships engaged in military or governmental services may be subject to arrest. g n o -i R The procedures of arrest of ships K A maritime claimant who wishes to apply for arrest of ships shall file an application in writing with a maritime court of the place where the vessel is located. In the application the particulars of the maritime claim, reasons for the application, subject-matter to be a K preserved and the amount of security required shall be specified with prima facie evidence attached. Such as property or debt certificate, contract, bill of lading, tally report, laytime statement, maritime report, ship damage report, cargo survey report, sea pollution report, notice of loss of or damage to cargo, photos and so on. The maritime court, having entertained an application for arrest of ships, may enjoin the maritime claimant to provide security normally. If the maritime claimant fails to do so, the court will reject the application. The type, method and amount of the security shall be decided by the maritime court, and cash, guarantee issued by banks and insurance companies can be accepted by the court normally. The maritime court, having accepted an application, shall make an order within 48 hours. Where the order involves adoption of measures for arrest of ships, it shall be executed forthwith; where the conditions for the arrest of ships are not met, it shall make an order to reject the application. 3 The legal instruments for arresting the ships shall be served by the officer of maritime court to the master of the arrested ship. The master shall sign on the acknowledgement of receipt. When serving the order for arresting the ships aboard, the officer shall present the order to the master and put up the order on the bottom of the mainmast of the ship or other obvious place. While issuing the order for arresting the ships, the maritime court may also send a notice to port authorities, frontier defence department and other authorities for assistance in execution of the order. If necessary, the maritime court may g n directly send bailiff or guard to go aboard for purposes of supervision. o R i a Any party who is dissatisfied with such an order may, within 5 days after receipt thereof, apply for review not more than once. The maritime court shall give the result of the review within 5 days after receipt of the application therefor. Execution of the order shall not be suspended during the period of review. Where arrest of ships is objected by an interested K party, the maritime court, having examined the objection and considering the reasons justified, shall discharge arrest against his ships. g n o -i R The defendant will provide the credible and sufficient security after knowing the arrested ship in order to release the arrested ship. The claimant and the court will check and approve such security and then the maritime court will issue an order to release the arrested ship in time after application of the claimant. However, the security provided by a K the party against who a claim is made does not mean acknowledgement of the liability or waiver of the liability limitation. Where on the expiry of the time limit for ship arrest, the party against whom a claim is made fails to provide security and it is not appropriate to keep the ship under arrest, the maritime claimant, having brought an action or applied for arbitration, may apply to the maritime court for auction of the ship. Application of arrest of ships shall not be bound by the jurisdiction agreement or arbitration agreement reached between the parties to an action in respect of the maritime claim. The application of arrest of ships shall be applied for the maritime court of the place where the ship subject to arrest is located. Provided that the foreign court has accepted such maritime cases or such disputes has been filed for arbitration, while the involved ships 4 Client Update are in the territory of China, such Maritime Court shall accept the application filed with the Maritime Court of the place where the ship subject to arrest is located. Consequent Lawsuit An action arising from arrest of ships can be under the jurisdiction of the maritime court of the place where the ship is located. Meanwhile, where the party against whom a claim is made provides security for discharge of arrest of ships on justified grounds, the disputed g n parties may in accordance with the original jurisdiction agreement bring an action in respect of the maritime claim in other court that has jurisdiction, or in accordance with the original arbitration agreement apply for arbitration. o R i a However, the time limit for ship arrest in preservation of a maritime claim is only 30 days, so a maritime claimant brings an action or applies for arbitration within 30 days. Otherwise, K during the period of arrest of ships, neither does the party against whom a claim is made provide the security nor does the maritime claimant bring a legal action, the maritime court shall release the arrested ships. The losses of the party against whom a claim is made due g n o -i R to the arrest of ships shall be liable by the maritime claimant. If the party against whom a claim is made provides the security while the maritime claimant fails to bring a legal action during the period of arrest of ships, the party against whom a claim is made may apply for returning his security provided. a K A chart is made to summary the above contents for your easy understanding (pls. see Appendix) Some successful cases in arresting ships handled by Kai-Rong ▲ In China United Property Insurance Company Jiangyin Branch vs. Solar Shipping and Trading S.A., and Songa Shipping Pte. Limited, arresting M/T “Swift Tiger” for claim Amount over USD 1,200,000.00. ▲ In PICC Jiangyin Branch vs. Dong Myung Shipping Co. Ltd, arresting M/T “103 Dong Myung” for claim amount over USD 130,000.00. ▲ In PICC Jiangsu Branch vs. Mora Shipping Inc., arresting M/T “Vitoria” for claim amount over USD 180,000.00. 5 ▲ In PICC Jiangyin Branch vs. Azia Shipping Holdings Limited, arresting M/V “Tugur” for claim amount over USD 110,000.00. ▲ In PINGAN Beijing Branch vs. Sea Target Marine Inc., arresting M/V “Gastone” for claim amount over USD 220,000.00. ▲ In China Grains and Oils Group Corp. vs. Kwang Myong International Shipping g n Company Limited, arresting M/V “Kwang Myong” for claim amount over USD 680,000.00. o R i a ▲ In China United Property Insurance Company Wuxi Branch vs. Dong Bang Chemical Shipping Co., Ltd, arresting M/T “Dong Bang Chemi” for claim amount over USD 210,000.00. K ▲ In PICC Jiangyin Branch vs. Seaford Wind Shipholding S.A., and Sunwoo Shipping g n o -i R Co., Ltd, arresting M/T “Ocean Queen” for claim amount over USD 260,000.00. ▲ In PICC Jiangyin Branch vs. Sky Shipping Co., Ltd. And S. Seagoing 2002 Co., Ltd, arresting M/T “ Sang Thai Eagle” for claim amount over USD 300,000.00 a K ▲ In PICC Zhangjiagang Branch vs. Pioneer Tunkers Shipping Co., Ltd, arresting M/T “Quiri” for claim amount over USD 1,400,000.00. Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm, a leading law firm specializes in international trade, shipping and aviation, insurance, finance and commerce, has been and will continue to be committed to serving clients both domestic and overseas with unmitigated zeal and great professionalism. For further information concerning this topic, please contact: Mr. Jin Yu-Lai / Managing Partner Tel: 86 21 5396 1065 Fax: 86 21 5396 1204 [email protected] www.skrlf.com This newsletter is intended to provide general information on issues which may be of interest. It is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Further advice should be taken before relying on the contents of this summary. 6 Client Update Appendix Chart : How to arrest ships in China Maritime Claimant Application in writing: ● One of Lawful Maritime claims ● In the scope of the ships maybe arrested Maritime court of the place where the vessel is located Not provide Maritime claimant provides security g n o -i R provide The court Make an order within 48 hours a K Ship-side dissatisfies Order The review is rejected The court arrests the ships Within 30 days the claimant fails to bring an action or applies for arbitration K o R i a The court rejects the application Within 5 days the ship-side applies for review only once Within 5 days the court gives the result of the review The ships will be public auctioned by the court in case that the ship-side fails to provide the proper security The review is accepted The ship-side provides the proper security The court releases the ships 7 g n
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