Stolt-Commitment Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

In a significant legal battle, two companies from the Marshall Islands and Germany are pursuing an estimated $110 million in damages linked to the sinking of their ship, the 'Thorco Cloud.' The Line Corp. and Marship MPP GmbH. Co. KG initiated their lawsuit on January 27, 2017, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. They have filed allegations of negligence against M/T Stolt, Stolt Commitment BV, and Stolt Tankers BV. The incident in question took place on December 16, 2015, when the 'Thorco Cloud' was navigating from Indonesia to West Africa. According to court documents, it was during this voyage that the 'Stolt Commitment' allegedly collided with the portside of the 'Thorco Cloud,' leading to a catastrophic event where the vessel split into two and ultimately sank. Tragically, six crew members went missing as a result of this incident and were later confirmed dead. The plaintiffs in this case are blaming the defendants for their purported failure to provide a properly trained and competent crew, as well as their inability to navigate and control their vessel effectively. In their complaint, they are demanding a trial by jury and have sought an arrest warrant for the 'Stolt Commitment,' aiming for it to be condemned and sold to cover any judgment that the court might grant. Additionally, they are claiming interest, legal costs, and other relief as the court may find appropriate. Representing the plaintiffs are Robert H. Murphy, Peter B. Tompkins, and Michael D. Letourneau from Murphy, Rogers, Sloss, Gambel & Tompkins, based in New Orleans.

Tragedy struck in the Singapore Strait on December 16, 2015, when the cargo vessel 'Thorco Cloud' sank following a collision with the 'Stolt Commitment.' The incident occurred at approximately 12:13 GMT, just 11 kilometers northwest of Batam, while the 'Stolt Commitment' was traveling from Singapore to Kaohsiung. Out of the 12 crew members on board the 'Thorco Cloud,' six have been rescued, with five saved by the Coastguard and one by the 'Stolt Commitment.' A large-scale rescue operation commenced immediately, with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) deploying two patrol craft and the Police Coast Guard dispatching five boats to the scene. Indonesian authorities have been notified and are also partaking in the search and rescue efforts. The MPA is closely cooperating with Indonesian officials to investigate the site, ensuring it is marked for safe navigation. They have issued warnings for vessels in the vicinity to avoid the area and report any sightings of the missing individuals. Fortunately, there have been no disruptions to shipping traffic or reports of oil spills in the essential shipping lane, although the MPA has stationed anti-pollution vessels on standby, aware that the 'Thorco Cloud' was carrying 560 metric tonnes of bunker fuel at the time of the accident. Two Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) vehicles were dispatched to assist, and the six rescued crew members were transported to Singapore General Hospital. The crew members hail from the Philippines and Eastern Europe, and their families have been informed of the situation. The 'Thorco Cloud' had recently departed from Batu Ampar and was en route to West Africa and subsequently South America, loaded primarily with steel. As the vessels crossed paths, the 'Stolt Commitment' collided with the port side of the 'Thorco Cloud,' which continued to drift for several minutes before succumbing to the sea. In the wake of the incident, the anti-pollution vessel 'Alugara' (IMO: 9309540) was on-site by December 18 to ensure no environmental damage ensued. Further coverage of the incident, including photographs, can be found in the report linked here: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-singapore-ship-sinking-idUSKBN0U00GZ20151217.