Hanjin summary judgment: "Does conviction pay off in practice?"

The commercial court in Antwerp yesterday ruled on the summary proceedings some 25 freight forwarders had filed against Hanjin on the one hand and terminal operators such as DP World, PSA Antwerp and Euroports on the other. Hanjin must ensure the release of blocked containers within 48 hours of service of the ruling. If it fails to do so, a penalty of EUR 1,500 per container per day will be imposed, up to a maximum of EUR 45,000. To retrieve the container, a Letter of Intent must be issued promising to return the container within five working days. However, the claim against the stevedores was declared inadmissible and this is precisely where several parties in the port see the shoe pinching.