FSL sues Daxin Petroleum in new twist in charter defaults

Singapore: First Ship Lease (FSL) Trust has filed a writ in the Singapore High Court against Daxin Petroleum and affiliates that defaulted on charters of two its vessels. In the latest twist in the legal tussle over two product tankers Nika 1 and Verona 1, FSL is now suing Daxin which had the vessels arrested last month in China and Japan for $4.8m in unpaid bunker bills, as well as affiliated companies Rovino Shipping Company and Mesino Shipping Company, and three representatives of Daxin: Gary Geller, Ngiam Tee Chiang and Per Sanfrid Landin. Rovino and Mesino are both affiliated companies of Daxin and Groda Shipping, and Transportation that chartered the Nika 1 and Verona 1 through Rovino and Mesino respectively. Groda Shipping defaulted on its long-term charters of the vessels in May this year, and Daxin and the ships were arrested for unpaid bunkers in June. FSL Trust Management said it was claiming for: "Damages for all loss and damage suffered in connection with the arrests of the two vessels to be assessed, declaratory relief, for an account to be taken of monies withdrawn from the bareboat charterers' accounts and the discontinuation of the legal actions against Verona I and Nika I in Japan and the People's Republic of China." [22/07/10]