Jeffersonville, Ind.- based barging firm American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) stated it has actually been free from any kind of mistake pertaining to the 2008 Mel Oliver accident and also resulting oil spill on the Mississippi River.
The news follows greater than 13 years of lawful procedures and also is the outcome of a negotiation contract gotten to on November 18, 2021, with the UNITED STATE Department of Justice and also the State of Louisiana relating to the situation.
It was established that mistake for the accident and also resulting oil spill comes from Harvey, La.- based DRD Towing, which ran and also crewed the towboat Mel Oliver that was hauling the ACBL-owned DM-932 barge at the time of the accident.
On July 23, 2008, Mel Oliver was pressing a container barge packed with gas oil when it went across in the course of the Tintomara, a 600-foot Liberian- flagged vessel, and also created an accident that brought about the discharge of around 282,686 gallons of gas oil from the barge right into the Mississippi River.
Even though ACBL was located not liable, The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) calls for the owner/operator of a warning barge to cover problems left overdue by the irresponsible financially troubled event. “Accordingly, ACBL agreed in October 2016 to compromise the government’s claim for all damages resulting from the oil spill for $20 million, which was fully paid in August of 2018. In addition to the settlement payment, ACBL and its insurers paid more than $75,000,000 to clean up the spill,” described John Nicoletti, outdoors guidance for ACBL throughout the 13-year Mel Oliver case.
“Although the Mel Oliver collision was a disastrous event for our industry, ACBL has worked diligently and transparently from the beginning with all parties involved to mitigate the damages that occurred due to DRD’s negligence,” stated ACBL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERMike Ellis “After many years, we are pleased to see this case finally reach its conclusion.”
ACBL lately moneyed the purchase of 650 acres of residential or commercial property for the defense of wild animals in top Plaquemines Parish, La.
“Our commitment to the environment never wavered throughout this process and remains strong today,” Ellis stated. “The woodland wildlife habitat will be managed by The Woodlands Conservancy, a local nonprofit that will keep the land available for recreation and educational purposes. Most importantly, this will forever preserve the local ecosystem.”
“ACBL has a strong legacy of more than 105 years of safe, efficient, marine transportation service in the U.S.,” Ellis included. “Every day, we move our customers’ products, safely and efficiently throughout the U.S. inland waterway systems. Our commitment to the safety of our people, our customers’ cargos and our environment, is the backbone of our culture.”
