The Pappadakis family company looking for redress after their bulker was "unreasonably" held by the Coast Guard for six months is going to have to wait a little longer to hear whether the US Supreme Court will hear their case.
Last week, the government exercised its right for a month-long extension to respond to Kassian Marine affiliate Angelex's appeal. The extension means a decision will not be made until 6 April as to whether or not the high court will hear the case.
Each year, thousands of cases are appealed to the Supreme Court, but only a handful are heard — and rarely are they maritime law or shipping-related cases.
In 2013, the 73,500-dwt Antonis G Pappadakis (built 1995) was arrested in the port of Norfolk, Virginia after alleged oily bilge discharge. The Coast Guard set bond for the vessel at $2.5m, but Angelex has argued in both an initial lawsuit and appeals that the bond amount was unreasonable, pointing to language from the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships that entitles "a ship unreasonabl[y] detained or delayed" compensation.
The company said it provided financial documentation to the government they said proved they could not pay the $2.5m bond.
The ship has since been renamed Electronica.
The arrest, Angelex claims, cost the company $4.2m.
At a criminal trial, the company and crew members were acquitted.
