Compensation notice slapped on MSC Chitra for oil-spill

The owners of cargo vessel MSC Chitra have been served a notice demanding compensation for the oil-spill and consequent ecological damage due to August 7 collision with another merchant ship, even as the directorate general of shipping is yet to conclude its probe into the mishap.

The joint notice by the Maharashtra government, Mumbai Port Trust and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust was delivered to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the owners of Chitra, yesterday.

The company has been asked to pay compensation as they have been identified as polluters, state transport minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil told reporters today after reviewing the ongoing salvage operations.

"We have sent a notice to the owners of MSC Chitra, whose collision with another cargo ship resulted in an oil slick off
the Mumbai coast. They have been asked to pay full compensation for the mishap," Patil said.

He, however, parried questions on the quantum of compensation sought from the owners. 

MSC Chitra had collided with MV Khalijia III off the Mumbai coast on August 7 morning following which the former tilted precariously and began leaking oil into the sea. An estimated 500 tonnes of oil spilled into the sea and about 250 containers, some carrying hazardous chemicals and pesticides, got hurled overboard.