On the 7th January, 2025, the former Masters, Officers and Crew (“Claimants”) of the Motor Tug “Topazio” Official No. 6887 of the Port of Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, (“Topazio”) commenced admiralty in rem proceedings against the Owners and/or Parties interested in the Topazio (“Defendants”) seeking the enforcement of a maritime lien for and payment of wages accrued from their service on board the Topazio arising out the purported failure and/or negligence of the Topazio’s former Owners / Receivers / Liquidators to settle the sums due to the Claimants prior to the sale of the Topazio. The claim for outstanding wages is the sum of $129,328.39.
On the same date, the Claimants applied to the Honourable Court for the issuance of a Warrant of Arrest against the Topazio. On the 9th January, 2025, the Hon Mr. Justice Christopher Sieuchand granted the said application, and ordered the judicial arrest of the Topazio.
The Claimants were represented by Nyree Alfonso and Asif Hosein-Shah. These proceedings remain ongoing before the Hon Mr. Justice Devindra Rampersad in the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago
UPDATE:
On the 6th February, 2025, the Hon Mr. Justice Rampersad granted the release of the Topazio from judicial arrest after the liquidators posted security for the said release by Bank Guarantee.
