Claims in the case of a runaway American Petroleum Tankers ship have reached $138.6m, according to papers filed in New Orleans federal court this week.
The Kinder Morgan subsidiary is seeking to limit its liability to $109.2m after the 50,000-dwt American Liberty (built 2017) lost control on the Mississippi River in mid-May, damaging two ships, a barge, docks and an Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) grain elevator).
In the filing, American Petroleum Tankers said ADM's claims had swelled to more than $80m from an estimated $65m when the agricultural giant first sued in May following the crash.
According to both court papers and the initial complaint, the American Liberty was sailing en route to Tampa when it encountered high river conditions near Garyville, Louisiana.
The ship had a pilot on board and was being accompanied by two tugs when it lost control, hitting the MUR Shipping-controlled 61,000-dwt African Griffon (built 2014), a crane barge and a hopper barge.
The American Liberty then dragged the two barges downriver, slamming into the grain elevator and damaging a third ship, the Kotoku Kaiun-controlled 82,000-dwt Ever Grace (built 2015).
The Ever Grace allegedly suffered $1.5m in damage, while the African Griffon $100,000.
One of the two barges has claimed nearly $6m, while the Port of Louisiana said its docks were damaged to the tune of $50m.
Kevin Wright, who was working aboard the damaged barge, has claimed $1m in injuries.
The court papers say the ship is worth no more than $112.5m, less $3.5m in repairs and that the damage was caused by negligent third parties.
