Stolt-Commitment

Two companies from the Marshall Islands and Germany alleged they sustained an estimated $110 million in damages after a collision with their vessel and another. The Line Corp. and Marship MPP GmbH. Co. KG filed a complaint on Jan. 27, 2017, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against M/T Stolt, Stolt Commitment BV and Stolt Tankers BV alleging negligence. According to the complaint, the plaintiffs alleged that on Dec. 16, 2015, plaintiffs' "Thorco Cloud" was on a voyage from Indonesia to West Africa when defendants' "Stolt Commitment" collided with the portside of the "Thorco Cloud". As a result, the suit states the plaintiffs' vessel broke into two sections and sank, six crewmembers went missing and were found dead. Based on estimates, plaintiffs alleged they will ultimately sustain damages currently estimated at $110 million. The plaintiffs holds M/T Stolt, Stolt Commitment BV and Stolt Tankers BV responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to provide properly trained and competent crew and failed to properly navigate and control the vessel. The plaintiffs requested a trial by jury and sough a warrant of arrest of the "Stolt Commitment", to be condemned and sold to satisfy any judgment awarded by the court, plus interest, costs, and attorneys’ fees and all further relief as the court may deem just and proper. They were represented by Robert H. Murphy, Peter B. Tompkins and Michael D. Letourneau of Murphy, Rogers, Sloss, Gambel & Tompkins in New Orleans.

The cargo ship "Thorco Cloud" sank in the afternoon of Dec 16, 2015, off Singapore after it collided with the "Stolt Committment", which was enroute from Singapore to Kaoshiung at that time, 11 km north-west of Batam. Six out of 12 crew members have been rescued so far, five by the Coastguard and one by the tanker, and a rescue operation was underway. Two patrol craft were deployed by the MPA for search and rescue operations. The Police Coast Guard (PCG) also deployed five boats. Indonesian authorities were also alerted of the incident by the MPA and have commenced search and rescue operations. The MPA was assisting the Indonesian authorities to survey and mark the sunken freighter to ensure navigational safety. The MPA has issued navigational broadcasts to vessels in the vicinity to keep clear of the area and to report any sightings of the missing crew members. There was no disruption to shipping traffic or reports of any oil spills in the Singapore Strait, said the MPA. Still, the MPA has readied anti-pollution craft on standby. Two Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were also dispatched. The SCDF has conveyed the six rescued crew members to Singapore General Hospital. The crew of the cargo vessel came from the Philippines and from Eastern Europe. Their families have been informed. The "Thorco Cloud" had just sailed from Batu Ampar when the accident occurred. The ship was primarily loaded with steel and was en route from Japan to West Africa and furhter on to South America. The course of the two ships crossed each other. The "Stolt Commitment" ran into the portside of the "Thorco Cloud". The tanker slowed down and altered course to starboard just before the collision, which occurred at 12:13 GMT. The "Thorco Cloud" went on for a few minutes before she sank. She had on board 560 metric tonnes of bunker fuel. The "Thorco Cloud" went on for a few minutes before she sank. She had on board 560 metric tonnes of bunker fuel. The tanker dropped anchor short time after the accident, and on Dec 18 the anti pollution vessel "Alugara" (IMO: 9309540) was on site. Report with photos: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-singapore-ship-sinking-idUSKBN0U00GZ20151217