Abstract:
What makes a vessel a “ship” for the purposes of invoking the High Court’s admiralty jurisdiction? This deceptively simple question, which finds no clear answer in the wealth of jurisprudence amongst the courts in the Commonwealth, is finally addressed comprehensively for the first time by the Singapore High Court. This case comment explores the decision and implications of the recent decision by the Singapore High Court as to the factors to be considered in determining whether a vessel is a “ship” for the purposes of invoking the High Court’s admiralty jurisdiction.