- Sri Lanka indicts Greek skipper of fire-stricken tanker for inflicting oil spill and not reporting environmental harm.
- Steiros Ilas Kardany, who’s presently in Sri Lanka, was charged underneath the 2 counts that carry a most penalty of 20 million rupees ($108,000).
- The Panamanian-registered New Diamond, with 270,000 tonnes of crude oil, was passing by Sri Lanka’s east coast when the fireplace broke out on 3 September.
Sri Lanka, on October 8, indicted the Greek skipper of a fire-damaged supertanker for causing an oil spill and failing to report the environmental damage to the island’s waters, reports France24.
Fire aboard oil tanker
The Panamanian-registered New Diamond, travelling from Kuwait to India with 270,000 tonnes of crude oil, was passing by Sri Lanka’s east coast when the fire broke out on 3 September.
Firefighters succeeded in putting out the blaze, and the crude remained unaffected but some of the tanker’s fuel leaked.
Read Also: [Watch] Tanker May Explode! Fire Aboard Oil Tanker
Crew member killed
The fire started after an engine room boiler exploded, killing one crew member. The remaining crew of 22, including the skipper, were rescued and are currently in Sri Lanka.
Skipper charged with penalty
Attorney-General Dappula de Livera filed charges against Steiros Ilas Kardany in the Colombo High Court under two counts that carry a maximum penalty of 20 million rupees ($108,000). A date for a hearing is yet to be announced.
The stricken tanker was towed to Sharjah’s Khorfakkan port in the United Arab Emirates after the owners paid Sri Lanka a claim of $2.38 million for dousing the fire.
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Source: France24
