ECC 145/2000

This case involved a ship was confiscated due to non-payment of fuel and other expenses. A key issue was whether the Egyptian courts had jurisdiction.

Background

A company requested the court issue an order to estimate the debt of a ship captain and requested the ship be confiscated. The company filed the claim against the captain in its professional capacity requesting him to pay $342081 in compensation for credit facilities given to the ship for fuel and other requirements as well as compensation for damages that the company had suffered because the captain refused to honour an agreement between the company and the company in Hong Kong. The company also requested a precautionary confiscation be confirmed and enacted. The court appointed an expert and accepted the defence submitted by the captain in which he argued that the Egyptian courts did not have jurisdiction to consider the case.

The company appealed the ruling before the court of appeal which upheld the ruling.

Decision