Supreme Court vacates vessel arrest after valid bareboat charter termination

Nereus Progress, where the registered owner challenged the High Court's order sustaining the arrest, arguing that the bareboat charter had been validly terminated prior to the arrest, thereby negating the respondent's maritime claim against the vessel.

Who it concerns: Appellant: Owners and Parties Interested in M.V. Nereus Progress; Respondent: Om Freight Forwarders Ltd.; Bench: Surya Kant, CJI.

What the court decided

• The Court granted leave to appeal.
• The Court identified two principal issues for consideration: (a) whether the termination of the Bareboat Charterparty (BBC) by the Appellant on 13.11.2025 was proper and valid, and (b) if so, whether Nereides continued to be the demise charterer of the Vessel on the date of arrest (04.12.2025) without physical repossession by the Appellant.

Also in the document

• The judgment is marked as 'REPORTABLE'.
• The appeal arises from a Division Bench judgment of the High Court of Madras dated 30.04.2026, which affirmed a Single Judge's order dated 06.02.2026 sustaining the vessel's arrest.
• The arrest was effected on 04.12.2025 via an ex-parte interim order obtained by the Respondent.