Admiralty and Shipping

6 cases · June 2025 to January 2026

Overview

Admiralty and Shipping appeared in 6 reported decisions between June 2025 and January 2026, with the Court of Appeal handling 5 case appearances and the High Court (General Division) contributing 2 cases. Key issues included admiralty jurisdiction and arrest matters such as actions in rem, statutory liens, and wrongful continuation of arrest. Bills of lading disputes appeared in multiple cases, covering pledging of bills as security and delivery of cargo against presentation. Enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in admiralty proceedings also featured.

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and Judge Steven Chong each sat on 3 admiralty cases. Allen & Gledhill LLP, Kenneth Tan Partnership, and Helmsman LLC each appeared in 2 cases.

Data coverage: between June 2025 and January 2026

Key Issues & Sub-Topics

Bills of lading — Financier pledging bills of lading to issuing bank as security for loan — Bank returning bills of lading to financier under trust receipt arrangement — Whether pledge was extinguished by redelivery of the bills to the financier 1

Admiralty jurisdiction and arrest — Stay of action in favour of arbitration 1

Enforcement of foreign arbitral award — Lifting stay of action — Judgment in rem 1

Admiralty jurisdiction and arrest — Action in rem — Statutory liens 1

Admiralty jurisdiction and arrest — Action in rem — Whether variation of a priority order can be sought by a claimant without a judgment in rem 1

Admiralty jurisdiction and arrest — Action in rem — Whether a proprietary claim to the sale proceeds of an arrested vessel may be made without invoking admiralty jurisdiction 1

Bills of lading — Delivery of cargo against presentation of bills of lading 1

Practice and procedure of action in rem — Warrant of arrest — Wrongful continuation of arrest and wrongful detention 1

Court Distribution

SGCA 5 SGHC 2 SGHCR 1

What admiralty and shipping cases are heard in Singapore courts?

Among 6 admiralty cases between June 2025 and January 2026, disputes involved admiralty jurisdiction and arrest, actions in rem, statutory liens, bills of lading, enforcement of foreign arbitral awards, and wrongful continuation of arrest. The Court of Appeal handled 5 case appearances.

Which judges handle admiralty cases in Singapore?

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and Judge Steven Chong each sat on 3 admiralty cases between June 2025 and January 2026. Judges Belinda Ang Saw Ean, Kannan Ramesh, and Ang Cheng Hock each appeared in 2 admiralty matters.