German court rejects damages claim in Rhine chemical ship capsize

06 October 2011 20:00  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS)--A German court has rejected a shipper's bid to obtain damages for delays suffered after a chemical ship capsized earlier this year on the Rhine river near Koblenz, it said in a ruling on Thursday.

It took four weeks to fully restore Rhine shipping after the chemical ship, carrying 2,400 tonnes of sulphuric acid from BASF’s chemicals production hub in Ludwigshafen to Antwerp, Belgium, tipped over on 13 January. Two crew members lost their life.

However, the court rejected the shipper’s claim for €20,000 ($26,700) against chemical logistics firm Lehnkering, to whose fleet the capsized ship belonged.

The court said such economic losses arising from delays after accidents could only be claimed in rare and severe cases. It went on to note that shippers can buy private insurance against such losses.

It remains unclear whether the shipper, whose name was not disclosed, will appeal.

A media official for Duisburg-based Lehnkering was not immediately available for additional comment.

($1 = €0.75)

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By: Stefan Baumgarten
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