The Handymax collided with a dive support craft Al Misbar, which was being used to ferry port employees from an offshore oil terminal, in August 2017. The Al Misbar overturned, trapping 23 passengers and 8 crew in the hull, eventually claiming the lives of 21 people. After the collision, the Royal Arsenal returned to Umm Qasr port for a judicial investigation and has been stuck in Iraq with 22 crew members on board ever since.
“Despite concerted and repeated efforts to work with the courts, the GCPI and the families of the deceased crew members to resolve this matter, very little progress has been achieved, and the vessel, and more importantly crew, remain at Umm Qasr. No quantified claims have been filed at court, even 12 months after the incident, so it has not been possible for security for the claims to be provided to enable the ship and crew to leave,” according to a recent statement from the owners and managers.
Namely, the owners of the ship and West of England P&I Club voiced the wish to settle all the claims arising from the incident, on a basis which reflects the merits and the failings of the GCPI. Based on the information from the ship’s managers, discussions to date have not been successful since the demands of the claimants have far exceeded the value of the bulker.
” Every time we try and move towards a resolution, fresh obstacles are created. We want to work with the families and the GCPI in a constructive manner, but it is just not possible when the goal posts are moved at every turn,” Roy Khoury, Managing Director of the vessel’s managers, Blue Fleet Group said.
According to Khoury, the crew members will continue to receive their wages and entitlements, adding that the company is making sure that the vessel is supplied with provisions and with power.
Due to the ongoing situation, the vessel’s owners incurred expenses in excess of USD 1.8 million, and lost a year’s income, he pointed out.
As informed, the ship’s owners have sought resolution of the case with the flag state and the attorney general of St Vincent and Grenadines.
Khoury said that the attorney general confirmed the support of the country’s government in bringing proceedings against the State of Iraq before the International Tribunal Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg “due to the prolonged detention of the vessel and the apparent absence of an effective and responsive judicial system.”
在Royal Arsenal與伊拉克港口總公司（GCPI）擁有/運營的船隻發生致命碰撞一年後Handymax散貨船的船員仍被拘留在伊拉克的Umm Qasr。
2017年8月，Handymax與一艘潛水支援船Al Misbar相撞，Al Misbar被用於從海上石油碼頭運送港口員工。Al Misbar翻覆，在船上了23名乘客和8名船員受困，最終奪走了21人的生命。人。在碰撞事件發生後，Royal Arsenal返回Umm Qasr港進行司法調查，此後一直困在伊拉克，船上有22名船員。
“儘管一致和反复努力與法院溝通，GCPI和已故船員的家屬一起解決這個問題，但只有很小的進展，船隻，更重要的是船員，留在了Umm Qasr。事件發生後12個月，法院尚未提出索賠，因此無法安全的使船舶和船員離開，“ 根據業主和管理人員最近的聲明。
也就是說，船舶的所有者和英格蘭西部P＆I俱樂部表示希望在反映GCPI的優點和缺點的基礎上解決事件引起的所有索賠。根據船舶管理人員提供的信息，迄今為止的討論尚未成功，因為索賠人的要求遠遠超過了散貨船的價值。
“每當我們嘗試並朝著解決方案邁進時，就會產生新的障礙。我們希望以建設性的方式與家庭和GCPI合作，但是目標改變隨著每次的不同，這是不可能的，“ Blue Fleet Group的船舶經理總經理Roy Khoury說。
根據Khoury的說法，機組人員將繼續領取他們的工資和應享權利，並補充說公司正在確保為該船提供配備和電力供應。
他指出，由於目前的情況，該船的所有者支出超過180萬美元，並且損失了一年的收入。
據了解，該船的所有者已向船旗國和St Vincent和Grenadines的司法部長尋求解決此案。
Khoury說，司法部長證實了該國政府支持在漢堡國際法庭海洋法（ITLOS）之前對伊拉克國提起訴訟“ 由於長期拘留該船並且明顯沒有效力和反應迅速的司法系統。“
Information source: World Maritime News Staff; Image Courtesy: World Maritime News Staff
