Criminalisation can hit shipping's bottom line

WHEN seafarers suffer a blatant injustice somewhere in the world, there is often genuine widespread outrage in the global shipping industry. That anger is usually tempered, however, by a feeling that nothing much can be done and trade must carry on regardless.

There was an uproar when Spain's Supreme Court recently overturned the 2013 verdict of the Spanish court of first instance in La Coruna, which had acquitted Apostolos Mangouras (master of the tanker Prestige) of charges of criminal damage to the environment in 2002.

Tanker owners body Intertanko's summary reflects the way the episode is widely viewed throughout the global shipping industry. It said: "Captain Mangouras, now 81 years old, is outrageously branded a 'reckless' criminal. Yet his actions were described as 'exemplary' by the vessel's flag state. Confronted with a refusal by the Spanish authorities to give the damaged ship refuge, Capt Mangouras bravely did all he possibly could to protect crew, ship and cargo, and to protect the environment. He remained on board with the chief engineer after the rest of the crew had been evacuated, in order to try and save the ship. Finally, against his judgement, he was obliged by the Spanish authorities to take a series of actions that resulted in the damaged tanker being forced to remain out at sea in appalling conditions, where she eventually broke up."