The Freccia Del Nord - Q.B.D. (Adm.Ct.) (Sheen J.) - 14 December 1988

Admiralty action in rem - When is court seised of jurisdiction for purposes of Civil Jurisdiction Convention?

On 19 June 1987 a collision occurred in the Bay of Biscay between the plaintiffs’ ship Nord Sea of Singapore and the defendants’ ship Freccia Del Nord of Palermo. At 16 10 on 25 June 1987 the plaintiffs issued a writ in rem against the Freccia Del Nord and three sister ships. At 16 30 on the same day the Nord Sea was arrested in Rotterdam by the defendants. The writ in the Dutch action was served on 3 July 1987. The writ in the English action was served on 9 July 1987.