Egyptian Ship 'Arrested' at Paradip Port Over Debt Dispute

An Egyptian ship, MV Wadi Albostan, has been detained at Paradip Port, Odisha, following an Orissa High Court order due to an outstanding debt of Rs 3.96 crore to a German company. The ship was transporting low-sulfuric marine gasoil and carrying iron ore to China.

An Egyptian ship, currently anchored at Paradip Port in Odisha, has been 'arrested' following an Orissa High Court order, an official said on Friday. The vessel arrived at Paradip Port on August 6 and was facing legal action due to an outstanding debt of Rs 3.96 crore to a German company related to the transportation of low-sulfuric marine gasoil, he said.

The German company had filed an appeal before the Orissa High Court, requesting the detention of the ship.

In response, the court ordered the arrest of the vessel on August 14, the port official said.

Under admiralty law, a ship can be arrested for the enforcement of maritime claims that arise out of the ownership, construction, possession, management, operation, or trading of any ship.

A senior judge of the local court has been appointed as admiral to oversee the detention, and the ship would remain under arrest until further notice, the official said.

The ship - MV Wadi Albostan - was en route to China, carrying 55,000 metric tonnes of iron ore from Paradip Port. The arrest of the Egyptian ship was the third such incident at the Paradip Port in the last four months.

(With inputs from agencies.)