The shipping firm initially apologised and paid US$7.85 million for the immediate cleanup and as compensation for fishermen who were deprived of their livelihoods following the catastrophic incident.
They then obtained an order from London’s admiralty court in July 2023, limiting their liability to a maximum of £19 million (US$25 million). Sri Lanka has appealed that decision.
The Sri Lankan government also filed a lawsuit against the ship’s owners in the Singapore International Commercial Court, claiming unspecified damages.
That case has been put on hold pending a decision from the admiralty court in London.
There was no immediate response from the Singaporean owners or their local representatives.
The vessel was carrying 81 containers of “dangerous cargo”, including acids and lead ingots, when it sank.
Tons of microplastic granules from the ship inundated an 80km stretch of beach along Sri Lanka’s western coast. Fishing was prohibited for months due to the plastic pollution.
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