The Bombay High Court has raised the compensation for the family of Rajesh Deshmukh, a deceased maritime engineer, from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1.31 crore. Justice Jitendra Jain criticized the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal for underestimating Deshmukh’s income, emphasizing the higher earnings in the offshore sector. The insurer must deposit the revised amount within 12 weeks.
Four states have ratified the 2010 HNS Convention, advancing its entry into force. This treaty aims to ensure timely compensation for damages from hazardous substances transported by sea. Currently, 12 states have joined, with five meeting the gross tonnage requirement, paving the way for potential implementation by late 2027.
CK Hutchison and its subsidiary, the Panama Ports Company, have escalated legal actions in a dispute over port concessions, seeking at least $2 billion in damages through international arbitration. Following Panama’s Supreme Court ruling, which deemed contracts unconstitutional, the government seized the ports and engaged Maersk and MSC for operations.
Authorities in Palghar district have approved compensation exceeding ₹2 crore per hectare for agricultural land acquired for the Vadhvan Port Project in Maharashtra. This initiative aims to enhance infrastructure, doubling the fixed market value for landowners, alongside a 100% solatium and applicable interest, significantly boosting local agricultural valuations.
Eight months after the sinking of the MSC Elsa 3, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company posted a bond with the Kerala High Court, enabling the release of the MSC Akiteta II, detained due to compensation claims exceeding $1 billion for environmental damage. Upcoming hearings are set for February 13, addressing local fishing community losses.
X-Press Feeders has criticized the Sri Lanka Supreme Court’s ruling for a $1 billion payment regarding the X-Press Pearl incident. The company claims the judgment unfairly blames them, highlighting failures by local authorities and a lack of timely action. They argue the ruling undermines international maritime law and sets a troubling precedent.
Farmers from Vangali village protested outside the Indian Maritime University, demanding jobs and compensation for land used to establish the university. They claim the university promised employment but hired outsiders instead. The farmers, frustrated with unaddressed concerns, have been cooking at the protest site for five days, vowing to escalate their actions.
Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has ordered a $1 billion compensation for the X-Press Pearl disaster, deemed the worst marine environmental catastrophe in the nation’s history. The Singapore-flagged vessel sank in June 2021, releasing toxic substances into the Indian Ocean, killing marine life and severely disrupting local fisheries. The ruling holds ship owners accountable.
A legal battle between celebrity US lawyer Tony Buzbee and music mogul Jay-Z has intensified over compensation claims by two injured seafarers. Buzbee’s firm is accused of diverting money meant for basic living expenses into high-interest loans, leaving the seafarers with only a fraction of their settlements. Jay-Z has taken legal action against Buzbee.
The family of a victim who died in a fire on a petroleum tanker in East Bali is frustrated by the lack of compensation from the shipping company. Despite promises, no financial support has been received, leaving the family in limbo. Efforts to secure funds have been unsuccessful, leaving them without clarity on their claims.
