A SINGAPOREAN ship owner and a ship manager that operated the vessel that struck and destroyed Baltimore's Francis Scott Key bridge have filed a petition seeking court protection from liability.
Grace Ocean, the owners of the 10,000-TEU ship and ship manager Synergy Marine, through their lawyers Duane Morris and Blank Rome, alleged that they are not responsible for the accident, reports UK's Seatrade Maritime News.
The petition also aims to consolidate all litigation in Baltimore's federal court and asks the court to impose a September 24 filing deadline for claims.
'The casualty was not due to any fault, neglect, or want of care on the part of [the] Petitioners [Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine], the Vessel, or any persons or entities for whose acts Petitioners may be responsible,' read the filing.
Additionally, the companies asked that if the Maryland District Court did find the vessel owner and operator liable, that any liability should be capped at the value of the vessel and the freight due from its cargo owners.
Dali's owner and operator vessel submitted the filing under the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851, legislation that enables vessel owners to limit liability for certain claims to the value of the vessel and its cargo at the end of its journey.
Limitation of liability will only be afforded if the owner and manager can show that the accident occurred without their 'privity or knowledge' and that future litigation is expected to focus on whether the owner and manager had any prior knowledge of factors that caused the accident.
Court documents reveal, the estimated value of the ship was US$42.5 million while its income from the curtailed voyage amounted $1.17 million giving a combined total $43.67 million. Vessel repairs have been estimated to be 'at least US$28 million', while salvage costs are estimated to be $19.5 million.
Insurance cover had been renewed the vessel's hull and machinery insurance just three days before the accident, and the policy had an insurance value of $90 million.
According to the court filing the companies 'are aware of potential demands or claims against them and/or the vessel arising out of the casualty.'
In what is expected to signal a long and drawn-out court battle the companies asked for 'exoneration' for the losses suffered as a result of the accident and 'allege that they have valid defences to any and all such claims'.
CBS News in the US reported that the credit rating agency Morning Star estimates the cost of the accident could surpass that of the Costa Concordia and become the most expensive in history at between $2 and $4 billion.
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Grace Ocean, the owners of the 10,000-TEU ship and ship manager Synergy Marine, through their lawyers Duane Morris and Blank Rome, alleged that they are not responsible for the accident, reports UK's Seatrade Maritime News.
The petition also aims to consolidate all litigation in Baltimore's federal court and asks the court to impose a September 24 filing deadline for claims.
'The casualty was not due to any fault, neglect, or want of care on the part of [the] Petitioners [Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine], the Vessel, or any persons or entities for whose acts Petitioners may be responsible,' read the filing.
Additionally, the companies asked that if the Maryland District Court did find the vessel owner and operator liable, that any liability should be capped at the value of the vessel and the freight due from its cargo owners.
Dali's owner and operator vessel submitted the filing under the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851, legislation that enables vessel owners to limit liability for certain claims to the value of the vessel and its cargo at the end of its journey.
Limitation of liability will only be afforded if the owner and manager can show that the accident occurred without their 'privity or knowledge' and that future litigation is expected to focus on whether the owner and manager had any prior knowledge of factors that caused the accident.
Court documents reveal, the estimated value of the ship was US$42.5 million while its income from the curtailed voyage amounted $1.17 million giving a combined total $43.67 million. Vessel repairs have been estimated to be 'at least US$28 million', while salvage costs are estimated to be $19.5 million.
Insurance cover had been renewed the vessel's hull and machinery insurance just three days before the accident, and the policy had an insurance value of $90 million.
According to the court filing the companies 'are aware of potential demands or claims against them and/or the vessel arising out of the casualty.'
In what is expected to signal a long and drawn-out court battle the companies asked for 'exoneration' for the losses suffered as a result of the accident and 'allege that they have valid defences to any and all such claims'.
CBS News in the US reported that the credit rating agency Morning Star estimates the cost of the accident could surpass that of the Costa Concordia and become the most expensive in history at between $2 and $4 billion.
SeaNews Turkey