Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 17-06-2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioners: M.V. Tulsi Sagar (IMO No. 9992842) and others; Respondent: Segal Ships Private Limited.
  • Dispute arises from Charter cum Sale Agreements concerning five vessels; High Court of Gujarat earlier held the matter falls under Sections 4(a) and 4(h) of the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017 and issued an arrest order.
  • Petitioners filed Special Leave Petitions (Civil) seeking relief from the arrest order and sought condonation of delay in filing.

Observations & Directions

  • The Court condoned the delay in filing.
  • It affirmed that the dispute is within the ambit of the Admiralty Act, making the arrest order “unexceptionable”.
  • Petitioners may approach the High Court to secure the maritime claim and request modification or vacating of the arrest order; the High Court is directed to dispose of such applications at the earliest.
  • The quantum of the claim shall be determined independently by the learned Single Judge of the High Court in accordance with law.
  • Any pending applications, if any, shall stand disposed of.

Final Outcome

  • The Special Leave Petitions are dismissed.
  • The arrest order against the vessels remains in force.
  • The High Court is instructed to expedite any application for vacating the arrest order and to decide the claim amount.

Topics: Maritime Law, Shipping Arrest, Admiralty Act