QCR Spring 2021: Addax Energy SA v MV Yasa H. Mullah - maritime lien for bunkers.
FACTS
In the case of Addax Energy SA v MV Yasa H. Mullah, No. 18-2438 (4th Cir., January 22, 2021), Addax Energy SA (Addax) filled in rem action pursuant 28 U.S.C. § 1333 in the US District Court Eastern District of Virginia against M/V Yasa H. Mulla (a Bulk Carrier) Addax had entered into a fuel supply agreement with the charterer of the vessel. When the charterer failed to pay the amount due, Addax filed the action against the vessel to enforce a maritime lien under the Commercial Instruments and Maritime Lien Act (the “CIMLA”), 46 U.S.C. § 31301 et seq., and the Supplemental Admiralty Rule C.
The vessel asserted that Addax’s right to a maritime lien was extinguished when Addax settled its breach of contract claim regarding the fuel supply agreement with the charterer in a separate proceeding.
The district court granted summary judgment to Addax, concluding that the maritime lien arose by operation of law and was unaffected by Addax’s settlement agreement with the charterer.
The vessel appealed. Its primary argument was lack of admiralty jurisdiction because the settlement agreement between Addax and charterer was a non-maritime contract that superseded the underlying fuel contract. The vessel contends that the district court
- should have credited the value of another claim (Cargill claim) against the lien,
- improperly awarded Addax custodia legis expenses, and
- violated the vessel’s due process rights by denying the vessel a prompt hearing under the admiralty rules.
JUDGEMENT
The Fourth Court affirmed the District’s Court’s judgment and concluded that the settlement agreement did not extinguish Addax’s right to a maritime lien, and that Addax was entitled to enforce that right in the district court. Additionally, the Court rejected the vessel’s arguments regarding the value of the lien, the expenses awarded to Addax, and the vessel’s due process rights.
The Court held that “the CIMLA created Addax’s right to a maritime lien. Addax’s and [charterer’s] later decision to renegotiate their obligations with respect to the fuel supply contract [by virtue of a settlement] did not affect Addax’s right to pursue its statutory in rem claim, except to preclude Addax from obtaining a double recovery on the debt. Accordingly, we conclude that the district court correctly held that Addax’s settlement of its in personam claim with [charterer] did not extinguish Addax’s right under the CIMLA to pursue a separate in rem claim against the vessel for the remaining amount due on the fuel contract.”
As to the Cargill claim, the vessel contends that the amount of Addax’s lien must be reduced by at least $100,000, the value of charterer’s claim against third-party Cargill International, which charterers assigned to Addax as part of the settlement agreement. The Court held that district court correctly declined to credit the value of the Cargill claim, which was a component part of the settlement agreement, toward the amount of the lien.
The Court also found no support for Vessel’s contention for improperly awarding Addax custodia legis expenses.
Finally, the Court held that the district court did not violate the vessel’s due process rights or improperly deprive the vessel of a hearing under Rule E(4)(f).
COMMENTS
This case highlights the CIMLA and where the right to a maritime lien derives from in the United States. It also shows that resolving a matter in personam does not extinguish the right to in rem action. Therefore, our members need to be aware that the risk of an in rem action against the vessel exists even if it appears that a settlement has resolved a dispute.
