Taxidiotiki-Touristiki-Nautiliaki Ltd (trading as Aspida Travel) v The Owners and/or Demise Charterers of the Vessel “Columbus” – QBD (Admlty Ct) (Mr Admiralty Registrar Davison) [2021] EWHC 310 (Admlty) – 18 February 2021

Admiralty jurisdiction – Travel agency making claims against proceeds of sale of vessels – Whether court had in rem jurisdiction – Whether travel agency entitled to default judgment

The claimant travel agency (Aspida) claimed against the proceeds of sale of the vessels Columbus and Vasco da Gama in respect of travel agency services for the transport of crew to and from the vessels. The period during which such services were provided was from 1 January 2020 to 31 July 2020. Some, though not all, of the costs were incurred in repatriating crew following the lay-up of the vessels in Tilbury due to the Covid-19 pandemic.