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We continue our roundup of events concerning the marine industry in 2016, as well as looking forward to 2017, by looking at how the collapse of Hanjin affected the world of shipping.
Le 1er septembre 2016 la compagnie Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd (“Hanjin”) première compagnie coréenne de transport maritime par conteneur a sollicité la protection de la loi coréenne sur les faillites et une procédure collective, dite de “réhabilitation”, a été ouverte par les tribunaux de Séoul.
1. Commencement of Rehabilitation Proceedings by Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd. (“Hanjin Shipping”) On August 31, 2016 Hanjin Shipping filed a rehabilitation petition with the Seoul Central District Court. The Case number is Seoul Central District Court 2016 HoeHap 100211. On August 31, 2016, the Bankruptcy Division of the Seoul Central District Court issued a comprehensive prohibition order, as a provisional measure, to all creditors.
On 1 September 2016 the Seoul Central District Court (6th Bench of Bankruptcy Division) decided on the request of Hanjin of 31 August 2016 to commence a rehabilitation procedure for the company since Hanjin is in a situation where it is unable to repay its payable debts without causing a substantial hindrance to the continuance of its business.
On September 9, 2016, Hanjin Shipping Co. won a ruling protecting its assets in the U.S. against creditors, while the shipping line proceeds with its reorganization in South Korea. Hanjin filed for relief under Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey (U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge John K. Sherwood in Newark, N.J.).
作为2016年整个航运界最震憾的事件，世界第七大集装箱航运商韩国韩进海运的破产案件最进又有了新进展。据外媒报道，在经历了近半年的重整努力后，2017年2月17日，韩国首尔中区法院正式裁定韩进海运破产。至此，这起航运史上最大的破产案件终于尘埃落定。据悉，韩进海运大部分的资产已经被拍卖用于偿债。
韩进海运在2016年9月进入重整程序后采取了哪些自救措施？这桩全球航运业有史以来最大的破产案涉及哪些航运企业跨境破产法律问题？我们将在下文逐一分析。
特殊的运营模式对航运企业的保护作用
为规避法律风险，现代航运企业多采取单船公司结构，单船公司之间彼此互不隶属。另外，除购买外，航运企业多采取租赁方式扩大商船运力。据报道，在韩进海运的全部运力中，仅有不足10%是由其自有船舶完成的。换言之，我们看到的航行在大洋上的、涂有HanJin Shipping字样的船舶里超过90%其实并不是韩进海运公司的财产。
The fact that the receiver appointed for Hanjin, Mr Tai-Soo Suk, quickly took steps to extend to the UK the protection afforded by the Korean rehabilitation proceedings, was of little surprise, as England is likely to be the forum where the majority of creditors will have to bring proceedings to recover debts or claim damages for breach of contract.
In a landmark judgment on 9 September 2016, the High Court of Singapore exercised its inherent jurisdiction to grant, on an ex parte basis, interim orders for the recognition of the Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd (Hanjin Shipping) Korean rehabilitation proceedings in Singapore.
As you may be aware, one of South Korea's largest shipowners, Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd (“Hanjin”), has applied for court rehabilitation in Korea. On 1 September 2016 the Seoul Central District Court (Bankruptcy Division 6) issued a decision accepting that application and commencing rehabilitation proceedings.
Based on our experience in dealing with recent rehabilitations involving the Korean shipping industry and working closely with Korean lawyers, we set out below a few guidance points.
What is a Korean Court Rehabilitation?