Ship Under Arrest: Claim For Damages

Chronicle (Levin), 31 May 1949, Page 5

Ship Under Arrest: Claim For Damages

AUCKLAND, May 30. A warrant of arrest and 36 writs have been served on the 6676-ton motor sliip Lautoka at Auckland following claims by eargo consignees of alleged damage ea'used to cargo during the \ oyage by the ship from Sydney to Auckland last year under the naine of Salamaua. The writs are «+ated to involve more than £12,000 011 behalf of 3 1 consignees and more than £2000 on behalf of two Government Department c laims. A representative of the Marshal oi the Supreme Court in its Admiraltv jurisdiction, Mr. C. P. Pratt, arrested the ship on one warrant and lashed seven writs to the mainmast of the Lautoka at her berth last Wednesday. Twenty-eight writs were lashed to the mast on Thursday and oue on Friday. A.s the time honoured custom of nailing the writs could not be carried out with the steel mast, string was used. The claims concern alleged damage caused on the voyage which began from Sydney on Aiay 2S, 1948, ano ended at Auckla-nd on June 3 and' the writs are against the ship and all per sons interested. The Lautoka is listed to sail for Meibourne on Thursday and although the warrant of arrest serve.s to detain her pending the hearing oi the claims by the Supreme Court in Admiralty jurisdiction, she can be re leased if security is given. Built at Glasgow in 1920, the Lautoka is one of the few large ships legistered at Suva.