Harms Bergung Transport and Heavylift GmbH & Co KG v Harms Offshore AHT 'Uranus' GmbH & Co KG & Ors

Harms Bergung Transport and Heavylift GmbH & Co KG v Harms Offshore AHT 'Uranus' GmbH & Co KG & Ors

The ship management claims are subject to German arbitration and must be stayed pending provision of security; the articles of association claims do not fall within Admiralty jurisdiction as they are not claims to ownership or employment of ships but relate to shareholding in corporate entities.

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 Claim / Ruling on Jurisdiction and Stay Applications
Outcome
Defendants' challenge to jurisdiction on articles of association claims succeeded; ship management claims stayed pending security.
Legal Topics
Jurisdiction, Stay of Proceedings, Security for Arbitration, Co Ownership, Breach of Contract, Articles of Association
Admiralty Arbitration Company Law Jurisdiction Stay of Proceedings Security for Arbitration Co Ownership Breach of Contract +1 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 Claim / Ruling on Jurisdiction and Stay Applications

Legal Issues

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

Ratio Decidendi

The ship management claims are subject to German arbitration and must be stayed pending provision of security; the articles of association claims do not fall within Admiralty jurisdiction as they are not claims to ownership or employment of ships but relate to shareholding in corporate entities.

Court Disposition

Defendants' challenge to jurisdiction on articles of association claims succeeded; ship management claims stayed pending security.

Orders

  • Ship management claims stayed pending provision of suitable security for arbitration.
  • Court has no jurisdiction over articles of association claims.