TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) today announced that the MOL-operated iron ore carrier BAOSTEEL EMOTION, which had been impounded by the authorities in Zhejiang Province, China on April 19, 2014, departed the port at 14:55 local time (15:55 JST) today.
The impounding is connected to the two freighters that were chartered from Chinese shipowner Chung Wei Steamship Co. by Daido Kaiun (predecessor of Navix Line, Ltd. which merged with MOL in 1999), commandeered by the Japanese government and subsequently lost at sea.
The Shanghai Maritime Court issued an order to MOL to pay some ¥2.9 billion the plaintiff including the shipowner. MOL filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of the People’s Republic of China, but the appeal was not recognized. Therefore, MOL was looking to conduct negotiations with the plaintiff toward the possibility for out-of-court settlement.
MOL takes into account that the situation may result in obstacles to its services, which may result in a negative impact on MOL business activities in China.
Reference:
The sequence of events in the case
[mappress] mol, April 24, 2014