A trio of shipping companies have agreed to yet another settlement — this one for $96.5m — for the 2021 oil spill off the coast of California.
Amplify Energy, the Houston company that had its pipeline torn open allegedly by dragged anchors, said MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Costamare-controlled Capetanissa Maritime and China Cosco Shipping entities have agreed to settle its legal dispute, with the energy company coming away with a net of $85m.
“Amplify has operated off the coast of California for years in a safe and responsible manner and we remain committed to ensuring the safety and protection of our employees, the environment and our surrounding communities,” said chief executive Martyn Willsher, who added that the company was eager to move on from the incident.
The Maritime Exchange, a Southern California shipping information nonprofit, was also part of the agreement and agreed to non-monetary terms.
The settlement is the second MSC and Capetanissa have agreed to pay in the last several days, with the two settling for $45m with local businesses and residents reached over the weekend.
MSC’s 14,028-teu MSC Danit (built 2009) and Capetanissa’s 9,469-teu Beijing (built 2006) were accused of dragging their anchors and damaging the pipeline, which ultimately resulted in 600 barrels of oil leaking into the Pacific Ocean.
In a statement, MSC denied responsibility, echoing statements made over the weekend in response to the first settlement.
It said the settlement was made without an admission of liability and that Amplify pled guilty to criminal negligence for its role in the spill.
“MSC will continue to demonstrate in the remaining legal proceedings with Amplify’s insurers that its ship was not responsible for the October 2021 oil spill, that its vessel manoeuvred correctly and that the ultimate responsibility lies with Amplify,” the company said.
“Despite becoming aware of increased marine traffic and associated risks in 2020, Amplify took insufficient measures to protect the pipeline which was under its management and control and greatly exacerbated the situation by failing to properly respond to eight separate leak detection alarms on the day of the rupture, thus spreading the environmental pollution by magnitudes.
“As previously stated, maritime experts have thoroughly investigated and reconstructed events that led up to the oil spill. These experts concluded that the MSC Danit was not responsible for the oil spill, that the vessel manoeuvred safely, and that Amplify simply failed to properly maintain and inspect the pipeline.”
Costamare and Cosco have been approached for comment.
