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ARTICLE · 01 AUGUST 2008

"ERIKA" Judgment - Environmental & Reputational Risk

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On 16 January 2008 the Criminal Court of Paris handed down its judgment in relation to the sinking of the tanker "ERIKA" in 1999.

United KingdomTransport
Damian Honey
Damian Honey
Xavier McDonald
Xavier McDonald

On 16 January 2008 the Criminal Court of Paris handed down its judgment in relation to the sinking of the tanker "ERIKA" in 1999.

In addition to the vessel's Owners and Managers, Classification Society Rina and Total SA were found guilty of pollution. The Court imposed fines of € 75,000 on the Owners and Managers and €375,000 on Rina and Total SA.

Total SA were not the charterers of the "ERIKA" (the charterers, Total Transport Corporation, were acquitted). The Court considered however that Total SA's extensive vetting procedures amounted to the de facto exercise by them of a power of control in the operation of the vessel so as to expose them to criminal prosecution.

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