Australian court provides clarity

Derek Luxford, of Hicksons, reviews a recent Australian court decision affecting offshore vessel arrests

A recent judgment by the Australian Full Federal Court (FFC) involving challenges to the arrest of four offshore vessels involved in the remote north west Australia offshore Gorgon gas and energy project (the Gorgon project) has provided some welcome clarification on the jurisdiction of Australian courts to arrest ships under the Australian Admiralty Act 1988. The judgment is in the case Programmed Total Marine Services Pty Ltd v The Ships Hako Fortress, Hako Endeavour, Hako Excel and Hako Esteem (2013) FCAFC 21.