Chinese court detains Japanese boat over unpaid damages

SHANGHAI - A maritime court in Shanghai detained a Japanese ship on Saturday following a court verdict that ordered the ship's owner to pay delayed rent and losses to a Chinese firm, the court said on Sunday.

The ship, named BAOSTEEL EMOTION and owned by Japanese shipping firm Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), was detained at a port in east China's Zhejiang Province on Saturday.

A Chinese company sued the Japanese shipping firm in 1988 in the Shanghai maritime court over alleged delays in rent payments for two ships and economic losses.

The court ruled on Dec. 7, 2007 that MOL should compensate the Chinese firm 2.9 billion Japanese Yen (28.4 million U.S. dollars), including delayed rent and operating losses.

The court said it will dispose of the ship if MOL continues to refuse to fulfill its obligation.