Shipbreaker in court battle

India – A disagreement between a shipbreaker and the Port Trust of Mumbai in India over use of port land has ended in court with both sides claiming its rights are being violated by the other, according to a report in the Times Of India.

Shipbreaker IB Trading Pvt Ltd went to the Bombay High Court alleging that the Port Trust was not allowing it to continue using a plot for breaking the vessel ‘MV Han Zhong Men’ – even though it had legally been given until June 26 to complete 80% of the task and had paid a breaking charges advance. ‘The petitioners are guilty of making false statements and suppressing facts to mislead and misguide the court,’ the Port Trust said in an affidavit.