Committal for Contempt of Court: V Ships Limited -v- Luna Management Corporation and others

Business and Property CourtsCommercial CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionCommittal for Contempt of CourtOrder

Claim Number: CL-2025-000019

In the High Court of Justice
Business and Property Courts of England and Wales
King’s Bench Division
Commercial Court

17 December 2025

Before:

The Honourable Mr Justice Andrew Baker

In an arbitration claim between:

V.SHIPS LIMITED (a company incorporated under the laws of Cyprus)

-v-

(1) LUNA MANAGEMENT CORPORATION (a company incorporated under the laws of Liberia)

(2) LAMBROS STRAVELAKIS

(3) STEFANOS STRAVELAKIS

Order

UPON the contempt applications brought by the Claimant against each of the Defendants dated 22 July 2025 (“the Contempt Applications”) which each contained the matters required by Civil Procedure Rule 81.4(2)

AND UPON the Application by the Second Defendant to adjourn the final hearing of the Contempt Applications (“the Adjournment Application”)

AND UPON the contempt application against the Third Defendant having been discontinued by notice dated 4 December 2025

AND UPON reading the evidence filed by the parties in the Contempt Applications

AND UPON the final hearing of the Contempt Applications on 9 to 11 December 2025 inclusive at which the Court heard oral evidence and argument

AND UPON the First Defendant neither attending the hearing nor appearing by legal representatives

AND UPON hearing counsel for the Claimant, Mr Ryan, and counsel for the Second Defendant, Mr Grey

AND UPON the oral judgment of the Court upon the Contempt Applications delivered this 17th day of December 2025

IT IS DECLARED AND ADJUDGED THAT

  1. The Adjournment Application is refused.
  2. The Contempt Hearing against the First Defendant can proceed notwithstanding the First Defendant’s absence.
  3. The Court is satisfied, beyond reasonable doubt, that the First Defendant is guilty of contempt of court in the manner stated in the judgment of the Court delivered this 17th Day of December 2025 and in particular by breaching a final antisuit injunction contained in an order of this Court made by Mr Justice Calver on 17 January 2025.
  4. The Court is satisfied, beyond reasonable doubt, that the Second Defendant is guilty of contempt of court in the manner stated in the judgment of the Court delivered this 17th Day of December 2025 and in particular, in his capacity as a de facto director of the First Defendant, by being responsible for the First Defendant’s breach of the said final antisuit injunction contained in an order of this Court made by Mr Justice Calver on 17 January 2025.
    AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT
  5. The First and Second Defendants shall each be jointly and severally liable to pay the Claimants’ costs of the Contempt Applications up to and including 17 December 2025, save for those costs solely attributable to the contempt application against the Third Defendant, such costs to be subject to a detailed assessment on the indemnity basis if not agreed.
  6. The Claimant’s costs of the Contempt Applications referred to at paragraph 3 above are to include the costs of the application for service of the Contempt Applications out of the jurisdiction dated 24 June 2025 reserved by paragraph 6 of the order of Mr Justice Jacobs dated 15 July 2025.
  7. The First and Second Defendants shall each be jointly and severally liable to make a payment on account of the costs ordered to be paid at paragraph 5 of this order in the sum of £270,000 by 4pm on 14 January 2026.
  8. Liability for the costs of the contempt application against the Third Defendant is adjourned to a further hearing to be listed pursuant to paragraph 10 of this order.
  9. The Claimant’s entitlement to interest on costs (if any) is adjourned to a further hearing to be listed pursuant to paragraph 10 of this order.
  10. There shall be a further hearing in this matter to be listed in the second half of the Hilary Term 2026 before Mr Justice Andrew Baker with a time estimate of 2 hours at which the Court will determine (1) the issue of penalty upon the above findings of contempt, (2) the costs issues identified at paragraphs 8 and 9 above and (3) any other matters consequential upon the judgment delivered today.
  11. The court before which any appeal must be brought is the Court of Appeal.
  12. Any appellant’s notice must be filed at the appeal court by 4pm on 7 January 2026. This is without prejudice to the Defendants’ right to Appeal to the Court of Appeal (including an appeal against liability) without permission, within 21 days after sanction, should a period of imprisonment be imposed.
  13. A transcript of the judgment given at this hearing will be published on the website of the judiciary of England and Wales.