Paradip: Acting on an Orissa High Court’s order, Paradip Police seized the Russian-flagged crude oil tanker MT Unity at Paradip Port over alleged non-payment of bunker fuel supplies exceeding Rs 4 crore.
The tanker, MT Unity (IMO 9388792), owned by FMTC Ship Charter LLC, was “arrested” on Wednesday in the presence of the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) of Kujang. The action was taken at the Single Point Mooring facility within the port premises.
IIC of Paradip Model police station Babita Dehury confirmed that the seizure was carried out following the High Court directive. “Police seized the vessel in Paradip waters in the presence of the Kujang JMFC following the High Court’s direction. It will remain under detention until further orders,” the IIC added.
The vessel entered Paradip Port on May 9 to unload crude oil from Russia for Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). It had already completed discharge operations at the Single Point Mooring (SPM) facility before the arrest warrant reached maritime authorities. I
t had since been barred from sailing and remained anchored off the Paradip coast.
According to court documents and sources, UAE-based supplier Tresta International FZE provided very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) to the vessel on January 20 under credit terms of up to 30 days, backed by a personal guarantee. An invoice was raised on January 21, with payment due by February 20. While partial payments were made, an outstanding principal amount of approximately US$ 369,750 (around Rs 4 crore) remains unpaid. Including interest and other costs, the total claim has risen to US$ 423,832.
Tresta International FZE approached the Orissa High Court seeking an ex-parte ad-interim order for the arrest of the vessel, its appurtenances, plant, and machinery. The plaintiff also sought time to deposit the deficit court fee of Rs 11,11,935.
On May 11, Justice RK Pattanaik, after reviewing the submissions and documents, ordered the arrest as an interim measure. The court observed that failure to secure the vessel could frustrate the purpose of the suit. Notice was issued to the defendant via email and courier, with the plaintiff granted liberty to serve the order through the Marshal of the Court as per the Admiralty Rules of the Odisha High Court, 1981.
This incident is not isolated at Paradip Port. Similar actions have involved cargo ships like MV Magnet Team and MV The Patron in disputes ranging from maintenance to berth hire charges.