*Contaminated diesel
March 15, 2013, 9:39 pmby Ravi Ladduwahetty
The Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) has demanded US$ 2.53 million from the owners of the ship, ‘Vineline Glory’ for the contaminated diesel which it supplied recently, from the shipper - Glencore PLC of Singapore.
"We must make sure that the owners of the Vessel pay us the USD 2.53 million which we are claiming as damages which will also cover the cost of the fluctuations in foreign exchange and the price of diesel, which is showing a declining trend," Lanka IOC Managing Director/CEO Subodh Dhakwale told The Island last night.
He said that the price of diesel was now on the decline and the agreement said that the rate payable by the ship owners was the current price and not the price at which the LIOC paid Glencore. "The damage that we are claiming in Court was a part of the settlement of that too," he said.
He also said that the LIOC had refused to pay the freight charges from Singapore and also the demurrage cost, which were payable as the Vessel was docked in Sri Lanka for the past 40 days. "We managed to get the ship arrested through a Court order and we are awaiting the arrival of the ship owners," he said, adding that he has had no intimation of their arrival.
"They should be here soon as the matter is before Court at this stage," he said.
He also stressed that the Loading Port Report, which was done prior to the Vessel leaving the shores of Singapore, was perfect which meant that the consignment which Glencore dispatched to Colombo was without impurities and contamination free.
"These surveys were done professionally by independent surveyors, which leaves room to believe that the stock of diesel was contaminated en route to Colombo, mid sea," he said.
‘Vineline Glory’ is owned by Vietnam National Shipping Lines.
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