Turks Shipyard Ltd v The Owners of the Vessel “November” – QBD (Admlty Ct) (Teare J) [2020] EWHC 661 (Admlty) – 20 March 2020

Admiralty practice – Shipyard concluding contract with company for work on vessel – Shipyard bringing proceedings in rem for cost of work – Whether company acted as agent for owners of vessel as undisclosed principals of company – Whether shipyard had valid in rem claim against vessel

The issue on this appeal was whether Clean Marine Ltd (CML), when it entered into an agreement with the claimant, Turks Shipyard Ltd (the Yard), for the drydocking, conversion and painting of the vessel November, acted as agent for the owners of the vessel so that the Yard might bring a claim for the cost of the work in rem against the vessel.