Liabilities for Injuries and Damage Following a Casualty

Liabilities for injuries and Damage
following a casualty

Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Main Context.........................................................................................................................................2
Analysis of the incident.....................................................................................................................2
Tug and tow relationship with the accident...................................................................................2
The Pilot and his/her involvement.................................................................................................3
Potential liabilities of the owners of the m/s Lima.............................................................................3
Third party liabilities.....................................................................................................................3
Own damage..................................................................................................................................4
The relationship between tug and tow and their liabilities to third parties.....................................5
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................6
References.............................................................................................................................................7
1

Introduction
The maritime law consists of the agreements and laws that govern activities and behaviour on
seas. The law monitors how people carry out their businesses on the waters. In this case,
Panamax bulk carrier m/s Lima (43,287 GT) on 15 August 2018 was entering into a port in
the UK carrying 65200 tonnes cargo of iron ore which was under the tug assistance and
pilotage. The cargo was transferred to Ore Imports Ltd that had purchased from the Universal
Exim Ltd in Antwerp. An accident occurred when the Little Giant decreased its speed
without informing it to the m/s Lima. The pilot gives "hard to starboard" order for avoiding
running into the tug which led to collision into the beacon and breakwater. The beacon
destroyed and engine room and two cargos were flooded. The crew suffered from a minor
bruise but the vessel sinks. Around 250 tons of heavy fuel oil flowed into the water (Melton,
2010). The owner of m/s Lima Andromeda Shipping Company Ltd suffered due to the
damages and losses.
Main Context
Analysis of the incident
Tug and tow relationship with the accident
Tug is a small and powerful boat which is generally used to tug and pull huge vessels. In this
case, a ship was fully loaded with 65,200 tons of iron ore entering a port in the United
Kingdom. Tug assistance was responsible to pull m/s Lima towards the harbour. The Little
Giant suddenly reduced speed without informing the pilot of m/s Lima. The pilot of m/s Lima
gave an order of "hard to starboard to avoid running over the tug'. Somehow it managed to
avoid a collision but m/s Lima hit hard the beacon and breakwater (Bell-Rehwoldt, 2005). It
can be noticed that the tug was responsible for the accident as tug did not inform the pilot of
m/s Lima about reducing the speed of the boat which is unethical. There should be
appropriate coordination and communication between the two drivers as per the UK standard
conditions and rules for towage and services. Tug assistance should have informed the pilot
of m/s Lima about reducing the speed of the boat. As per the UK standard conditions and
rules for the towage and other services, the tug was responsible for the accident (Richardson,
2003).
2