Sri Lanka seeks a claim for $17.38 million from the owners of the oil tanker New Diamond, that caught fire and left a spill of 40 kilometres off the country.
The New Diamond vessel was travelling from Kuwait to India, when a fire broke out while it was passed Sri Lanka’s east coast.
While, the crude being carried as cargo was not affected, some of the tanker’s fuel spilled into the Indian Ocean.
As a result, the ship’s skipper was fined $65,000 for the spill and for failing to inform local officials of the environmental damage.
Now, Sri Lankan authorities are seeking compensation for the damage. Between 400 to 480 tonnes of fuel had leaked from the ship.
The fire began after an engine room boiler exploded, killing one crew member. The remaining crew of 22, including the skipper, were rescued.
