MT HEBEI SPIRIT- AFTERMATH

On 8th December 2007 a crane barge owned by Samsung collided with the MT Hebei Spirit about 6.2 miles off the coast of South Korea. Collision caused 3 large hole on the hull of the tanker and released an estimated 2.8 million gallons of crude oil. The spillage cove rd a very large coastal area of South Korea.

After being detained in South Korea for the last one year, an appeals court in South Korea on Wednesday pounded with jail term for Indian Master and Chief Officer of the vessel in connection with oil spillages for MT Hebie Spirit. 

It is reported that the jailed Master and Chief Officer of the Hebei Spirit are being held in inhumane conditions which breach their human rights and go against their religious principals,as stated by the InterManager, the association of International Ship Managers. The message from InterManager, who represents near about 2,500 oceangoing ships and 125,000 crew, very clear that the shipping industry will not stand idly by while this injustice continues. 

While speaking in this week's Seatrade Middle East Maritime Conference in Dubai, general secretary of InterManger Mr Morel told delegates he believes the court’s decision was based on a “inaccurate, if not incompetent” report. InterManager has vowed to submit an official complaint to the United Nations for breach of the Human Rights Act and is calling on all its 125,000 seafarers to send a personal message of protest against unjust acts to the South Korean Government.

InterManager stated that “The two officers have now been thrown into jail and we have received reports indicating that they have been mistreated. Some of these mistreatment include: public humiliation after the sentence; being confined to a small, filthy cell without proper heating and proper facilities; being refused proper visiting time; and being forced to accept a feeding regime that is against their philosophical or religious beliefs. These are direct breaches of their Human Rights".

"InterManager members are considering several actions (that will continue until Captain Chawla and Chief Officer Chetan are freed):

1. Encouraging all seafarers from all our organisation’s members to send a personal message of protest to the Korean authorities calling for the immediate freedom of Capt. Chawla and C/O Chetan – a potential total of 125,000 people.

2. Adding a clause to any contract our members agree with Korean firms, indicating that both parties support the legitimate request for freedom of Capt. Chawla and C/O Chetan – and bear in mind that our members have a total turnover in sole crew operations of some $5 Billion.

3. Appealing to the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations for it to intervene with the Korean Government and asking for their help to organise the immediate release of our crews.

4. Not opposing our crew members who refuse to serve on ships bound for Korea, on the basis that they fear for their freedom once they arrive there. Mr Morel concluded: “This affair is the worst thing that could happen to an industry that is already having so much difficulty in attracting young people. How can we explain to our apprentice officers that, even if they do their job well in all aspects, they may end up in jail for long periods for incidents in which they bear no responsibility?”

The very goes about is that firstly the vessel was at at anchorage while the collision took place and secondly first quote verdicted Master and Chief Officer as huilt free in the spillage incidence, which was reversed by appeal court almost after one year.

Source: Intermanager