A O Karelrybflot v Udovenko and Ors - Court of Appeal of New Zealand (Richardson P, Gault, Keith, Blanchard and Tipping JJ) - 17 December 1999

Claim by seamen for wages and for damages for failure to pay wages - Whether plaintiffs entitled to recover damages subsequent to contractual expiry date

The defendant was a Russian shipping company. From 1995 until 1998 five fishing vessels which it owned were operated in New Zealand waters by Abel Fisheries Ltd (‘Abel’). Between July 1995 and August 1996 significant quota management offences were committed by those using the vessels. As a result, the vessels became forfeit to the Crown on 23 February 1997.