Suit alleges NOLA port’s negligence

The Singapore-based shipping company Antares Maritime PTE Ltd., which owns the cargo ship M/V Pac Antares that spilled about 2,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil into the Mississippi River at the Nashville Avenue Wharf in April, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Port of New Orleans. The lawsuit alleges negligence by the Port in maintaining the wharf, where the accident occurred. Antares Maritime has asked the court that the NOLA port and Ports America Louisiana LLC, which operates that wharf, for the port, be required to pay what it expects will more than $10M in damages resulting from the accident and the spill. An 8th District Coast Guard spokesperson said the agency’s investigation of the incident is still ongoing, and will not be completed for some time. As of April 21, the Coast Guard said it had recovered 11,500 gallons of liquid waste; and that 140 people, 30 vessels, six skimmers and 2,900 feet of containment material had been used in containing the spill. The lawsuit also alleges the Port of New Orleans’ board of directors was aware of the deteriorated condition of the wharf when it directed the Antares to anchor at the location. The board’s own inspection of Jan. 30, identified numerous fenders in that section of the wharf that required replacement, the suit alleges, and no repairs were made before the incident. (Source: NOLA.com 12/04/18)