Vessel Owner Seeks to Post General Maritime Bond to Prevent Arrest of M/V Bahamas Pearl in Contract Dispute
Centauri Transport LLC, a Miami-based vessel owner, has filed a petition in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida seeking to post a $5,000 general maritime bond to prevent the arrest of its cargo vessel, the M/V Bahamas Pearl. The petition arises from an ongoing contractual dispute with Palm Beach–based ship management company MMS Americas LLC over technical services and vessel management.
Petition Filed to Replace Threatened Arrest with Security Deposit
According to the filing, Centauri Transport engaged MMS Americas to provide technical services for the Bahamas Pearl, a Panamanian-registered roll-on/roll-off cargo vessel operating between the United States and the Bahamas. The agreement, attached as an exhibit to the petition, contains a binding arbitration clause.
Centauri asserts that a “bona fide dispute” exists regarding the contract, with both parties holding claims and counterclaims. MMS Americas has allegedly threatened to arrest the vessel as security for its claims and demanded unspecified security. While Centauri offered to deposit cash into its attorney’s trust account, the parties could not agree on the amount or terms of substitute security.
Owner Proposes $5,000 Bond in Lieu of Vessel Arrest
To avoid the commercial disruption of an arrest, Centauri seeks court approval to deposit a $5,000 general cash bond with the court as security, without prejudice to either party’s right to later petition for a change in the amount or to seek counter-security. The petition cites Supplemental Admiralty Rules C and E, which govern vessel arrests and substitute security in maritime proceedings.
Dispute Tied to Breach of Maritime Contract for Vessel Management
The underlying dispute involves allegations of breach of a maritime contract for vessel management and crewing services. Centauri contends it has met all conditions precedent to bringing the petition and seeks to resolve the matter in arbitration per the parties’ agreement, while maintaining the vessel’s ability to operate during the proceedings.
Court Asked to Exercise Admiralty Jurisdiction
The petition states that the Southern District of Florida has admiralty jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1333 and personal jurisdiction over MMS Americas because both companies maintain offices in the district and the alleged breach occurred locally. Venue is asserted under 28 U.S.C. § 1391 for similar reasons.
Contact a Maritime Arrest and Bond Lawyer for Vessel Security Disputes
Vessel arrests can be costly and disruptive to commercial shipping operations. U.S. maritime law allows vessel owners to post substitute security, such as a general maritime bond, to release a vessel from arrest or prevent it altogether. If you are facing a threatened arrest or need to secure claims in maritime arbitration, our experienced admiralty attorneys can guide you through the process.
Contact us now to speak with a maritime lien and vessel arrest attorney.
Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the petitioner in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.
