For Immediate Release
Selendang Ayu Settlement Reached
Alaska, 22 August 2007 - IMC Shipping Co Pte
Ltd, General Agent of the M/V Selendang Ayu, which grounded
off Unalaska Island in the Aleutians during a fierce storm
in December of 2004 and the United States Department of
Justice have reached a settlement of federal charges arising
from the accident and its aftermath. Under the terms of
the settlement, IMC pleaded guilty to three strict liability,
misdemeanor charges, i.e. two for violations of the Refuse
Act and one from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, relating
to the discharge of oil and soy beans from the vessel,
and killing migratory birds.
IMC's spokesman, James Lawrence, commenting on the
settlement of the case said, IMC has worked closely
and fully cooperated with the relevant authorities including
the United States National Transportation Safety Board
(NTSB) during their investigations. We regret the loss
of six of our crew and the damage to marine life and
to the land. We would like to thank the Alaska Department
of Environmental Conservation, and the US Coast Guard
for their rescue operations and efforts as part of the
Unified Command. We are grateful for the efforts of
the responders and the hundreds of men and women, who
helped in the clean-up efforts. Finally, we want to
thank the people of Unalaska community, and our friends
and industry colleagues the world over for their support
during the accident.
Clean up of the spill area took place over two summers
and was declared complete on June 23, 2006 by the Unified
Command. It represented the work of numerous companies,
communities and government agencies.
The Selendang Ayu was en-route from Seattle to China
in December 2004, transiting the Bering Sea when a crack
in the number 3 cylinder liner was discovered. The NTSB
report determined that the probable cause of the grounding
of the Selendang Ayu was the development of this cylinder
liner crack which required the crew to shut down the
engine in order to isolate the number 3 cylinder. After
isolating the cylinder, the crew could not manage to
get the engine restarted. Under extreme conditions of
strong winds and rough seas, the stricken vessel grounded
and subsequently sank on the west coast of Unalaska
Island.
The NTSB report underscored the lack of adequate salvage
response resources in the Bering Sea and the Aleutian
Islands. Until the lack of salvage resources is addressed,
this area will remain at risk to the shipping industry.
Following the accident, IMC has since put in place
an Aleutian Island Shipboard Emergency Plan for its
fleet; a plan it hopes will become a model for the shipping
industry.
Prior to leaving Seattle on the fateful voyage, the
US Coast Guard had conducted a thorough inspection of
the Selendang Ayu. Its investigators found no deficiencies
aboard the vessel, and in fact were complimentary of
its condition and upkeep.
Vessel records and crew testimony demonstrated that
the crew had conducted a detailed maintenance check
and thorough inspection of the main engine pistons and
cylinders and that there were no known problems with
the main engine, including its cylinder liners or piston
rings, when the vessel departed Seattle for China.
At the time of the accident, there was no overdue maintenance
as all recommended maintenance works and inspections
had been carried out according to the schedule set forth
in the manufacturer's recommendations. In addition,
the vessel had a full complement of spare parts when
it left Seattle.
IMC and the United States Department of Justice disagree
as to whether improper maintenance and operation of
the vessel could have led to the development of the
cylinder liner crack. However, as part of the plea agreement,
the company will willingly submit to future periodic
reviews of engine maintenance and performance on vessels
within the IMC fleet.
Under the terms of the plea agreement with the U.S.
Department of Justice, IMC will be contributing $3 million
dollars of the penalty to fund a risk assessment exercise
of the navigational risks along the heavily transited
Great Circle Route and another $1 million dollars of
the penalty for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
for funding projects for the Alaska National Marine
Wildlife Refuge system.
IMC remains committed to the Aleutian Islands initiatives.
It is a complex challenge that the Alaskan population,
the U.S. Coast Guard and shipping industry must have
a shared stake in ensuring the sea route is safe. IMC
will continue to work with its industry partners and
government agencies of the world to continuously explore
best practices to improve safety and environmental protection.
Contact:
MTI Network USA
Jim Lawrence
Mobile: 203 550 2621
or
Darrell Wilson
Mobile: 405 314 8536
or
Michael Hanson
Mobile: 845 629 0259
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