IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 09-02-2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH AND A.No.532 of 2026 Centralog D O O A Company incorporated under Slovenia Ferrarska 30, 6000 Koper, Slovenia Rep. herein by its Authorised Signatory A.G.Shankar Plaintiff(s)

Vs Owners and Parties interested in The Vessel M.V.Sea Moon (IMO 9647344)

Now lying at the Chennai Port Authority Chennai, Tamil Nadu Respondent(s)

Plaint filed under Order XLII Rules 1,2 & 3 and Order IV Rule 1 of the Madras High Court Original Side Rules read with Sections 3 & 4 of the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017 read with Section 4 of the Commercial Courts Act, praying for a judgment and decree against the defendant for a sum of EUR 133711.42 (INR 1,46,05,833.25) [being the aggregate of the principal sum of EUR 108252.46 (INR 1,18,24,849.22) and interest thereon at 18% p.a. being EUR 12758.96 (INR 1,39,37,12.24); along with legal costs and charges being EUR 12700 (INR 1,38,72,71.80) including poundage] from the date of this Plaint till date of actual realisation or such higher sum of Indian Rupees equivalent to the exchange rate prevailing on the date of the judgment whichever is higher and for arrest and sale of the defendant vessel MV Sea Moon, in as is where is condition, presently in Indian Waters at Port of Chennai at Tamil Nadu or wherever available within the territorial waters of India.

For Plaintiff(s): Ms.Shubharanjani Ananth For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Vasudevan

JUDGMENT

This suit has been filed for the following relief:

“For a judgment and decree against the defendant for a sum of EUR

133711.42 (INR 1,46,05,833.25) [being the aggregate of the principal sum of EUR 108252.46 (INR 1,18,24,849.22) and interest thereon at 18% p.a. being EUR 12758.96 (INR 1,39,37,12.24); along with legal costs and charges being EUR 12700 (INR 1,38,72,71.80) including poundage] from the date of this Plaint till date of actual realisation or such higher sum of Indian Rupees equivalent to the exchange rate prevailing on the date of the judgment whichever is higher and for arrest and sale of the defendant vessel MV Sea Moon, in as is where is condition, presently in Indian Waters at Port of Chennai at Tamil Nadu or wherever available within the territorial waters of India.”

2.Initially, A.No.532 of 2026 came up for hearing on 02.02.2026 and this Court passed the following order:

“This application has been filed for arrest of the Vessel M.V.Sea Moon (IMO 9647344) together with her hull, tackle, Engines, Machinery, apparel, equipment, stores and all other appurtenances presently lying at Chennai Port or wherever found within the territorial waters of India.

2.Heard the learned counsel for the applicant/plaintiff and carefully perused the materials available on record.

3.The case of the applicant is that on 07.3.2025, the registered owner of the Vessel approached the applicant in its capacity as agent to provide essential supplies to the Vessel. The applicant issued an invoice dated 04.6.2025 after all the services were provided and there was a total outstanding to the tune of EUR-108,252.46. In the absence of response from the respondent, the applicant issued a letter of demand dated 20.08.2025, calling upon the registered owner to pay the amounts due and payable.

4.It is also brought to the notice of this Court that the owner had acknowledged the debts through their communication dated 11.9.2025. It is under these circumstances, the suit has been filed before this Court for recovery of money. The learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant has a maritime claim against the respondent Vessel under Section 4(1)(l)(n)(t) of the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017 and therefore is entitled to assert its maritime claim for the recovery of the amounts due and payable to the applicant.

5.This Court is of the considered view that a prima facie case has been made out by the applicant/plaintiff