A Wah Kwong Maritime Transport supramax bulker has been arrested in India.
The 53,400-dwt New Venture (built 2009) was detained while at anchor off the port of Deendayal on Monday against a claim over a cargo shortfall filed by fertiliser company Indian Potash.
This is the first case involving the arrest of one of the Hong Kong-based shipowner’s vessels reported by TradeWinds.
According to Indian Potash’s filings with the High Court of Gujarat in Ahmedabad, the New Venture arrived at Deendayal with 45,000 tonnes of fertiliser on board on 4 October.
Prior to the ship’s departure from its loading port, a surveyor confirmed that amount of fertiliser had been loaded.
Indian Potash therefore agreed to discharge the cargo by issuing a letter of indemnity as the original bills of lading were still in transit.
A post arrival survey in Deendayal found that only 44,725 tonnes of the cargo was on the ship.
Indian Potash said that on 9 October it “intimated” to Wah Kwong through its local agents there was a shortfall and the shipowner should reimburse $150,523 for the value of the missing fertiliser plus another $20,000 for legal costs. However, it said it received no response.
Three days later Indian Potash petitioned to have the ship arrested, and its request was granted on Monday.
The New Venture remained under arrest on Wednesday.
Wah Kwong said it is working with its protection and indemnity club and local authorities to secure the earliest release of the ship.
Indian Potash is no stranger to quickly arresting ships that it alleges have arrived at Deendayal with small cargo shortfalls.
And the company is not shy when it comes to chasing big-name owners it believes owes it money.
In July, Indian Potash seized Star Bulk Carriers’ 63,300-dwt Kaley (built 2015) after claiming its surveyors had a shortfall of 262 tonnes of fertiliser when the ship arrived at Deendayal.
Legal sources in India told TradeWinds that Indian Potash has arrested several other vessels under similar circumstances this year.
The ships are usually released from arrest after the shipowners deposit security with the High Court of Gujarat in Ahmedabad, where the cases are filed.
This article has been updated to include comment from Wah Kwong.
