Japan's Nagashiki Shipping is attempting to limit its liability for the grounding of the bulk carrier Wakashio to $16.6m.
An application has been made by Nagashiki's shipowning subsidiary Okiyo Maritime Corp to the Mauritius Supreme Court.
The application, to be heard in January, is based on Mauritius' ratification of the Convention for Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims.
As earlier reported by TradeWinds, the country has not updated its ratification by adopting the 1996 protocol to the convention.
Had Mauritius adopted the protocol, it would have been entitled to around $66m in compensation under the 2001 International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage.
The Wakashio's protection and indemnity cover was placed with the Japan P&I Club, which will meet most of the salvage, wreck removal, environmental clean-up and compensation costs.
Nagashiki representatives have been contacted for comment.
The 203,000-dwt Wakashio (built 2007) grounded off Mauritius in July 2020 after crew sailed too close to the shore in search of a mobile phone connection.
Around 1,000 tonnes of fuel leaked from the vessel, causing widespread environmental damages to coral reefs, mangroves and the tourism and fishing industries.
Since the incident, the master and chief officer have been held in Mauritius, while most of the crew have been detained in the country as witnesses.
After the incident, the forward section of the vessel was towed out to sea and sunk.
The stern remained aground and is undergoing a wreck removal by Chinese firm Lianyungang Dali Underwater Engineering.
Although progress has been made, a large section of the wreck remains off the coast.
