FSL – BT

FSL Trust files writ against Daxin Petroleum

FIRST Ship Lease (FSL) Trust has filed a writ of summons against Daxin Petroleum and its affiliated companies Mesino Shipping and Rovina Shipping.

Three Daxin representatives – Gary Geller, Ngiam Tee Chiang and Per Sanfrid Landin – were also named in the writ filed on Tuesday this week. Daxin was sued after it arrested two FSL Trust ships – Nika I and Verona I – in ports in Japan and China. Daxin detained them early last month, saying its charterers Mesino and Rovina had not been paid for bunkers supplied to the vessels.

FSL Trust has since recovered both vessels after posting bail of US$1.6 million for Verona I in Japan and US$2.8 million for Nika I in China.

Singapore-listed FSL Trust is claiming damages for all losses incurred and for arrest-related damages. It is also seeking declatory relief and ‘for an account to be taken of monies withdrawn from the bareboat charterers’ accounts’.

FSL Trust also wants legal action against the two vessels in Japan and China dropped. Its two wholly owned subsidiaries, FSL-18 and FSL-19 are currently defending claims made against the vessels in Japan and China.

FSL Trust is represented by Allen and Gledhill in the proceedings.

When contacted yesterday, Daxin declined to comment.