The Vasiliy Golovnin - practical implications for ship arrest in Singapore

This article examines the practical implications following the latest Singapore Court of Appeal’s decision in The Vasiliy Golovnin [2008] SGCA 39 where the requirements of disclosure of material facts for the purpose of an application for ship arrest in Singapore were discussed.

Dennis Tan, LLB (Hons) Nottingham; LLM (Maritime Law) Southampton; solicitor, England and Wales; advocate and solicitor, Singapore; partner of shipping law firm, Dennis Mathiew and Hui Tsing Tan, LLB (Hons) Bristol; LLM (Maritime Law) Southampton; advocate and solicitor, Singapore; partner of shipping law firm, M/s Joseph Tan Jude Benny LLP

The facts

Financiers of a cargo of rice loaded on the Chelyabinsk arrested her in Togo for loss/damage arising in connection with carriage by the vessel. The vessel was released by the Togolese courts. The financiers then arrested her sister ship, the Vasiliy Golovnin in Singapore, for the same claim.