JJ Ugland wasted no time in moving to arrest an Andreas Petrakis-backed ship after two bulkers crashed in the Gulf of Mexico last week.
Two of the Norwegian shipowners' companies, Ugland Marine Services and Ugland Shipping, filed a $3m lawsuit in New Orleans federal court after the 74,475-dwt Iolcos Unity (built 2006) was in a collision with Ugland's 63,532-dwt Livita (built 2017) three days before.
The complaint names Petrakis-founded Iolcos Hellenic Maritime and Hudson Anthem Shipping Company as defendants as well as targeting the ship itself.
Navigational errors
It alleges the collision was due to the navigational errors on the part of the Iolcos Unity's crew.
US District Judge Jay Zainey has since signed off on an arrest warrant.
The US Coast Guard confirmed the two ships collided, but did not have details to the extent of the damage or the cause.
The agency confirmed the Livita is anchored in the Southwest Pass Anchorage, near the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, where the crash took place. Officials said the Iolcos Unit was cleared to continue its voyage.
According to AIS data, the ship is on the Mississippi between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
Iolcos Hellenic chief operating officer Nikos Athanassiou declined to comment, only to say there was no injury or pollution.
