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Written by: ChrisHaley Tuesday, 13 December 2011
David Osler of Lloyds List
Monday 3 October 2011
SWIRE Navigation and Bluewind Shipping have told a court in Brisbane they will plead guilty to charges arising from a serious bunker spill off the Australian city two years ago, according to Australian media reports.
The incident, during which Swire vessel Pacific Adventurer lost 31 containers in heavy seas off Cape Moreton, took place in March 2009. Some of the loose containers hit the ship, causing a 270,000-litre fuel oil spill in an area with important tourism and fishing sectors.
Charges against the master, Bernandino Santos, have been dropped. It was ruled the problems that led to the loss of the containers had existed before he took charge of Pacific Adventurer.