Pakistan Court Allows Tasman Spirit Crew to Exit Country

The application was filed by attorneys for the accused detainees of the Tasman Spirit oil spill. The tanker sailed from Iran on August 26, 2003, with 67,000 metric tons of crude oil for Pakistan Refinery Limited. The vessel entered Pakistan territory, and started entering into Channel B of Port Karachi, under the supervision of Pakistani pilot Captain Nasir Javed.

Under Pakistani law, every captain must bring his ship in under the supervision of a Karachi Port Trust (KPT) pilot. The weather was rough that day and the KPT pilot instructed the accused Tasman Spirit captain, Kruvstinos Dimitvious, to increase the speed of his ship to avert mishap. However, the captain and his crew disregarded the pilot?s instructions and the ship grounded.

The KPT insists that Captain Dimitvious was derelict of duty and he was subsequently arrested. The oil spill caused millions of dollars in damage, the loss of a valuable oil product, damage to the environment, and suffering of the citizens of Karachi.

The government of Pakistan is demanding $10 billion in compensation. The Charge d Affairs for the Greek Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan was present in court and assured the Pakistani government that they are working with the American P&I Club to meet the demands for compensation.

The European Union, the Human Rights Commission, the Greek foreign minister, and the government of Pakistan have form a commission to deal with the issues surrounding the spill.

The salvage master, Nicholas Papas, Tasman Spirit Master, Kruvstinos Dimitvious, Chief Officer, Meitetis Georgian, 3rd Officer, Jomero Joel, Chief Engineer, Valsamos Dionisios, 2nd Engineer, Monongsong Roberto, 3rd Engineer, Koulosos Gerorgios, and Quarter Master, Floras Greg, who have all be detained since July 27, 2003, have all been allowed to exit the country.