Mar 15: Is a vessel owner liable for consequences if a charterer defaults in his payment obligations to appellants in regard to activities of the vessel while it was under charter?
8The vessel owner was sought to be pulled in as the the charter hire agreement made the chatterer the "beneficial owner
8The vessel was arrested on an interim order based on the complaint of the appellants, who were owners of support vessels and were owned dues by the charterer of a seismic vessel.
8Eventually, however, the vessel was released after it was agreed that despite the charter agreement, the owner of the vessel cannot be made liable for dues run up by the charterer.
8The ruling has implications for the Indian shipping industry, particularly those operating the oil & gas industry.
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