The "Simba"

• Jurisdiction: Singapore
• Court: Federal Court (Singapore)
• Judge: Chua F A J
• Judgment Date: 30 September 1969
• Neutral Citation: [1969] SGFC 8
• Citation: [1969] SGFC 8
• Defendant Counsel: KC O'Connor (Drew & Napier)
• Plaintiff Counsel: AP Godwin (Donaldson & Burkinshaw)
• Published date: 19 September 2003
• Docket Number: Civil Appeal No Y3 of 1969
• Date: 30 September 1969
• Subject Matter: Whether Admiralty Procedure Rules 1895 (UK) still in force in Singapore,Admiralty jurisdiction and arrest,Admiralty and Shipping,Practice and procedure of action in rem,Whether Admiralty Procedure Rules 1895 contain adequate provision for procedure to be adopted in admiralty proceedings,Whether affidavit disclosed facts upon which court could exercise admiralty jurisdiction,Adequacy of affidavit to lead warrant of arrest,Whether O 75 r 5 of the Rules of the Supreme Court 1965 (UK) applicable,O 75 r 5 of the Rules of the Supreme Court 1965 (UK),Admiralty Procedure Rules 1895 (UK) -preliminary r 2, Rules of the Supreme Court 1934,Action in rem,Warrant of arrest,s 4(4), Courts (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Ordinance 1961 (No 32 of 1961)

At the conclusion of the hearing on 30 June 1969 we dismissed this appeal with costs, indicating that we would give our reasons at a later date. We now proceed to do so.

This was an appeal against the decision of T Kulasekaram J, dismissing a motion:

For an order that the writ of summons and all subsequent proceedings herein including the warrant of arrest be set aside with costs on the grounds following:

That the affidavit to lead the warrant of arrest is bad for non-compliance with O 75 r 5 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of England as applied by preliminary r 2 of the Rules of the Supreme Court in that (a) the port to which the said vessel belongs is not named, and (b) the requirements of the said O 75 r 5(8)(a), (b) and (c) have not been complied with and/or the said affidavit discloses no facts upon which the exercise of the jurisdiction conferred upon this honourable court by s 4 of the Courts (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Ordinance, 1961, can be founded and that the said vessel `Simba` now under arrest herein be released from such arrest and that a direction to release be sent to the Sheriff of Singapore.

This motion came on for hearing on 15 January 1969 by which time the said vessel had already been released on 23 December 1968 upon the defendants furnishing satisfactory security.

The plaintiffs in this case took out a writ against the defendants on 9 December 1968 and, on the same day, applied for a warrant for the arrest of the motor vessel `Simba` .

In support of this application, the following affidavit sworn to by Mr KA O`Connor, a partner of the firm of solicitors acting on their behalf, was filed the same day:

1 I am a partner in the firm of Drew & Napier and have the conduct of this action on behalf of the plaintiffs.

(2) I am informed by Messrs Lillick, McCase, Wheat, Adams and Charles, Attorneys of San Francisco, California, United States of America, and verily believe:

(a) that the plaintiffs who are a limited company incorporated in Israel, were the charterers of and owners of cargo laden on board the motor vessel `Simba`under a charterparty in Baltime form dated 16 March 1966;

(b) that during a voyage from ports in Europe to the West Coast of the United States the said cargo sustained damage;

(c) that the plaintiffs have a claim against the said vessel in respect of such damage;

(d) the property to be arrested is the `Simba`and the claim has not been satisfied.

3 The aid and process of this honourable court

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