New section 47B – Expenses
786.Section 47B(1) provides the court with the power to award the creditor the expenses of obtaining warrant for and executing an arrestment of a ship, cargo or other maritime property on the dependence. But the court may modify or refuse the creditor’s right to these expenses if the creditor was unreasonable in applying for a warrant or if the court thinks it is reasonable to modify or refuse the award of expenses (subsection (3)).
787.Subsection (2), entitles the defender to expenses in opposing the grant of the warrant where warrant is granted but the creditor was unreasonable in applying for the warrant. Again the court can modify or refuse these expenses if satisfied that it is reasonable to do so. In particular, the court should take account of the outcome of the action.
788.If any other question arises in relation to the expenses of obtaining or opposing a warrant or of executing the arrestment, subsection (5) provides the court with the discretion to deal with it.
789.Subsection (6) provides that expenses of obtaining warrant for arrestment or opposing the warrant are to be treated as expenses of process.
790.Subsection (7) provides that any legislation or rule of law which deals with the recovery of expenses of executing an arrestment on the dependence of a court action which are chargeable against the debtor is not affected by the rules set down by subsections (1) to (4).
791.Subsection (8) provides the court with discretion to deal with the expenses incurred in obtaining a warrant granted for arrestment in rem in enforcing a claim listed in paragraphs (p) to (s) of the section 47(2) list or in opposing an application for it.
