The owner of the cargo ship MV Solong, which collided with a U.S. military-contracted tanker in the North Sea last month, has announced plans to set up a fund in the UK to address potential lawsuits.
MS Solong Schiffahrtsgesellschaft M & Co KG, a subsidiary of Ernst Russ, owns the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong.
On Monday, the company was sued at London’s High Court by the operators of the Stena Immaculate, the tanker involved in the collision on March 10.
In a separate move, Ernst Russ’s subsidiary filed a case at the Admiralty Court seeking to limit liability. This case targets the Dutch logistics firm Samskip, which had containers on the Solong, and other parties claiming damages from the incident.
A spokesperson for Ernst Russ explained that the fund is intended for parties with verified claims against the Solong’s owner. The decision to establish the fund in the UK was made because the incident occurred in UK territorial waters, where many interested parties and potential claimants reside.
The Solong collided with the Stena Immaculate at nearly full speed, causing significant damage and fires. The tanker was carrying jet fuel for the U.S. military. One crew member from the Solong remains missing and is presumed dead. The ship’s captain, Vladimir Motin, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter.
Related topics:
