Arrangements to estimate value of abandoned yacht

Mahinda P. Liyanage - Galle Daily News Correspondent

Directorate General of Merchant Shipping has made arrangements to estimate the value of a yacht stationed on Galle Harbour pier for over a year under the custody of harbour authorities following an order given by Colombo Commercial High Court. Accordingly an authorized assessor of the Merchant Shipping arrived at Galle Harbour yesterday to carry out the assignment.

Galle Windsor Reef Navigation (Pvt.) Ltd , a shipping and yacht agent had filed a case against French national M. Yves George, owner of SY Ad Hoc alleging him of non-settlement of dues payable to them in respect of the supply of goods or materials and rendering services for his yacht on its arrival at Galle Harbour last year.

However, during the course of litigation the owner of the yacht had fled to his country without informing the harbour authorities or the agents as well.

Nevertheless the Galle agents through the Commercial High Courts had sent all related legal documents to the accused residential address in France informing about the legal action taken against him for which he had never promptly responded.

Consequently as there was no appearance of the accused or representation on his behalf, the Commercial High Court Judge trialed the case ex-parte and ordered that the yacht belonging to the French national be valued and auctioned publicly to recover the dues to the plaintiff shipping agents and the port and pier charges due for the Galle Harbour.

On behalf of the plaintiff, K. P. Law Association had filed the case against the yacht owner in the High Court in the exercise of its Admiralty Jurisdiction under the terms of Section 2(1), (1), (i) (ii) of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act No 40 of 1983 in respect of the goods or materials supplied or services rendered for operation and maintenance of the yacht.