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Source: Lloyd's List
Lloyd's List : THE owner of the panamax bulk carrier Bright Field, which ploughed into a New Orleans dockside complex on Saturday, was yesterday facing the prospect of substantial claims from the 100-plus shoppers injured in the accident.
Insurers for the 68,200 dwt vessel confirmed the Liberian-flag Bright Field was fully covered for damage caused by the crash, including the cost of restoring the New Orleans Riverside complex, and compensation for personal injury to persons ashore. But the company said it was too early to assess the extent of the damage.
However, observers believed awards for those claimants seriously injured in the accident could exceed $1m per person, which, added to the property damage, could push the total bill for the accident into tens of millions of dollars.
"It is very early days. Obviously we are pleased there is no loss of life, and we are continuing to work with the shipowner to minimise the claim," a spokesman for the West of England P&I Club, the Bright Field's liability insurer said.
"However, it will be many months before a clear picture of the cost of the incident emerges," he added.
The incident, which took place during a busy shopping period, was alleged to have occurred after a problem with the Bright Field's oil lubricating system, which resulted in a power failure.
The vessel, which was equipped with just one propeller, lost control almost immediately, subsequently cutting a 160 ft swath into the wharf, stores, restaurants and hotel situated in the complex.
At least 15 shops were believed to have sustained serious damage, while 456 hotel rooms positioned above the shopping complex were also destroyed. The vessel narrowly avoided a collision with the Flamingo casino riverboat, which was carrying nearly 800 gamblers.
A formal investigation into the accident will now be carried out by the US Coast Guard.
The Bright Field, which is managed by Cosco's Hong Kong arm, has been detained alongside the wharf. There remain fears that further damage to the wharf will result if she is moved.
She is believed to be aground by the bow, with rupture holes in her hull plating on the port side. Some of her $15m cargo of soyabeans has leaked out through the damaged plating.
[12-19-96 at 15:04 EST, Copyright 1996, Lloyd's of London Press]
Note - last sentence mentions soybeans while all other references are corn
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