Harms Bergung Transport and Heavylift GmbH & Co KG v Harms Offshore AHT 'Uranus' GmbH & Co KG & Ors [2015] EWHC 1269 (Admlty) (07 May 2015)

Harms Bergung Transport and Heavylift GmbH & Co KG v Harms Offshore AHT 'Uranus' GmbH & Co KG & Ors [2015] EWHC 1269 (Admlty) (07 May 2015)

The Admiralty Court does not have jurisdiction over the articles of association claims as they do not fall within s.20(2)(a) or (b) of the Senior Courts Act 1981; the ship management claims are subject to German arbitration and must be stayed, with security to be provided for the arbitration.

Citation
[2015] EWHC 1269 (Admlty)
Parties
Claimant/respondent: Harms Bergung Transport und Heavylift GmbH & Co KG; Defendant/applicant: Harms Offshore AHT 'Uranus' GmbH & Co KG; Defendant/applicant: Harms Offshore AHT 'Magnus' GmbH & Co KG; Defendant/applicant: Harms Offshore AHT 'Ursus' GmbH & Co KG; Defendant/applicant: Harms Offshore AHT 'Taurus' GmbH & Co KG; Defendant/applicant: Harms Offshore AHT 'Orcus' GmbH & Co KG; Defendant/applicant: Harms Offshore AHT 'Janus' GmbH & Co KG
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
07 May 2015
Procedural Posture
Admiralty Court Application / Jurisdictional Challenge and Application for Stay
Outcome
Ship management claims stayed pending provision of security; Court has no jurisdiction over articles of association claims.
Legal Topics
Jurisdiction, Stay of Proceedings, Arbitration Agreement, Exclusive Jurisdiction, Co Ownership, Security for Claims
Admiralty Arbitration Company Law Conflict of Laws Jurisdiction Stay of Proceedings Arbitration Agreement Exclusive Jurisdiction +2 more

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Parties

Harms Bergung Transport und Heavylift GmbH & Co KG

Claimant/respondent

Harms Offshore AHT 'Uranus' GmbH & Co KG

Defendant/applicant

Harms Offshore AHT 'Magnus' GmbH & Co KG

Defendant/applicant

Harms Offshore AHT 'Ursus' GmbH & Co KG

Defendant/applicant

Harms Offshore AHT 'Taurus' GmbH & Co KG

Defendant/applicant

Harms Offshore AHT 'Orcus' GmbH & Co KG

Defendant/applicant

Harms Offshore AHT 'Janus' GmbH & Co KG

Defendant/applicant

Procedural Posture

Admiralty Court Application / Jurisdictional Challenge and Application for Stay

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the English Admiralty Court has jurisdiction over ship management claims subject to German arbitration
  2. 2 Whether the articles of association claims fall within the Admiralty jurisdiction under s.20(2) of the Senior Courts Act 1981
  3. 3 Whether the Defendants can submit to the jurisdiction for ship management claims

Ratio Decidendi

The Admiralty Court does not have jurisdiction over the articles of association claims as they do not fall within s.20(2)(a) or (b) of the Senior Courts Act 1981; the ship management claims are subject to German arbitration and must be stayed, with security to be provided for the arbitration.

Court Disposition

Ship management claims stayed pending provision of security; Court has no jurisdiction over articles of association claims.

Orders

  • Ship management claims stayed under s.9 Arbitration Act 1996, subject to provision of security.
  • Declaration that Court has no jurisdiction over articles of association claims.