CHENNAI: Only a couple of claims seeking compensation for the loss due to oil spill following a collision between British flagship vessel B W Maple and Indian flagship vessel M T Dawn Kancheepuram near Ennore recently, have been received, according to Amitabh Kumar, Additional Director-General of Shipping.
Kumar, who was in the city to review the situation arising out of the oil spill, said the two claims received were not that substantial. The claims are from the Kancheepuram Collector and Chennai Port, which has given its equipment for clean-up operations.
P&I insurers of M T Dawn Kancheepuram (Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association Limited) established a ‘claims desk’ at Crowe Boda and Company Private Limited in MLM Building in Wallajah Road.
M T Dawn Kancheepuram has to pay up for the liabilities while it is yet to be established as to who was responsible for the collision because as per the Merchant Shipping Act, the polluter pays.
Kumar said it would take some time to file proper claims as they have to adduce it to the losses.
He also said the inquiry carried out by the Director-General of Shipping would take two more weeks to complete.
Chennai Port Trust Chairman P Raveendran, who attended the meeting reviewed by Kumar, said Dariya shipping, owners of M T Dawn Kancheepuram, had cleared the oil blobs on the beaches of Mahabalipuram and this was confirmed by the State fisheries department.
He said the agencies were continuously monitoring the spill. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard said that it is verifying claims of oil sheen having drifted to Puducherry coast.