HC Orders Release Of Singaporean Cargo Ship From Odisha’s Paradip Port

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court, which had earlier issued direction for ‘arrest’ of MV Propel Fortune vessel over a monetary dispute, ordered the immediate release of the Singaporean cargo ship on condition of submitting a bank draft of Rs 15.56 lakh.

Ship chandler MH Bland SL, a dealer in supplies and equipment for ships, had raised the dispute before the vacation court on Monday alleging non-payment by MV Propel Fortune for supply of a wide range of provisioning, maintenance and services for the vessel at Paradip Port.

Vacation Judge M S Raman had ordered the arrest of the cargo ship as it was set to leave the Paradip Port.

However, after considering the submission of MV Propel Fortune’s counsel on Tuesday, Justice Raman said, “In the event the demand draft of Rs 15,56,100 drawn in favour of the Registrar (Judicial) of High Court of Orissa, Cuttack is furnished by the defendant before the Registry today on proper acknowledgement, the defendant-vessel, MV Propel Fortune shall be released forthwith from arrest and would be free to sail out of Paradip Port.”

The vacation judge directed to list the matter in the week commencing January 6 before the assigned jurisdictional court (admiralty judge).