Bridge Oil Ltd v Owners and/or Demise Charterers of the ship “Giuseppe di Vittorio” - Court of Appeal (Evans, Aldous and Waller LJJ) - 29 October 1997

Admiralty action in rem - Who was beneficial owner of vessel at time cause of action arose? - Whether there has to be a contract before there can be a “charter by demise” within meaning of section 21(4)(i) of the Supreme Court Act 1981

The plaintiffs arrested the vessel Giuseppe di Vittorio for non payment of the price of bunkers supplied to the vessel in July and December 1996. The vessel was one of a large fleet of vessels operated world-wide by Blasco (Black Sea Shipping Co).