Court allows Drill Ship Aban Ice at Inner Anchorage, Mumbai Port for practical reasons

The Court modified its previous order and allowed the Drill Ship Aban Ice to be parked at Inner Anchorage, Mumbai Port due to practical considerations and the nearing completion of the contract. The respondents did not object to this interim relief, ensuring the vessel's movement without affecting their rights. The Court disposed of the interim application with a directive for implementation via fax or email.

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Issues:
Interim relief sought for parking the Drill Ship Aban Ice at Inner Anchorage Mumbai Port and seeking permission for its movement.

Analysis:
The applicants, who are the petitioners in the related writ petition, filed an interim application seeking specific reliefs regarding the Drill Ship Aban Ice. The reliefs included permitting the vessel to be parked at Inner Anchorage Mumbai Port, ensuring that the vessel will not be moved without intimation to the Respondent No.2, and clarifying that these actions do not affect the rights of the respondents to act in accordance with the law.

During the proceedings, Mr. Jetly, learned senior counsel for the respondents, expressed no objection to the interim prayer of allowing the vessel to be moved to Inner Anchorage, Mumbai Port. This concession was made as the vessel could not remain at the contract site, indicating a practical approach towards the situation.

The Court noted a previous order from 26-04-2017, which directed the petitioners to deploy the vessel for the contract without moving it beyond the contractual stipulations. Mr. Jetly assured that no coercive measures would be taken against the petitioners based on the order-in-original, which was accepted by the Court.

In light of the information provided by ONGC that no new well could be taken up after a specific date and that the contract was nearing completion, the applicants sought permission to move the Drill Ship Aban Ice from its current area of engagement in oil exploration. Considering these circumstances, the Court decided to modify its previous order from 2017 and allowed the vessel to be parked at Inner Anchorage, Mumbai Port.

Consequently, the interim application was disposed of with the new directive regarding the parking of the vessel. The Court specified that the order would be digitally signed for implementation by concerned parties upon receipt via fax or email.

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