A chemical tanker has been arrested at India’s Deendayal Port following a contractual dispute between its owner and Singapore-based BainBridge Navigation, according to industry sources.
The vessel, the 13,000-dwt Oceanic Dream (built 2008), was operating under a time charter to BainBridge Navigation when the relationship between the two parties reportedly deteriorated, leading to early termination of the charter.
BainBridge Navigation, which operates bulk carriers and tankers, has alleged that the vessel failed to perform satisfactorily during the charter period. The claims are understood to relate to operational and performance issues, though specific details have not been disclosed.
Following the termination, BainBridge initiated legal action, resulting in the arrest of the tanker at Deendayal Port, formerly known as Kandla Port, on India’s west coast. Vessel arrest is a common remedy in maritime disputes, allowing claimants to secure their alleged dues while arbitration or court proceedings are pursued.
Sources indicated that the tanker remains under arrest pending the posting of security or further legal orders. The owner of Oceanic Dream has not publicly commented on the matter.
The incident highlights the growing number of charter-party disputes in a volatile freight market, where performance clauses, off-hire claims and early terminations are increasingly being tested through legal action.