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Roberto Giorgi
Speaking just hours after being exonerated for causing destruction of property, Capt Chawla told Lloyd’s List: “Even in our whole life we won’t be able to say ‘thank you’ to everyone for helping us. I know Mr Chetan has got the same feeling.”
He said the two men “could never dream” their case would attract so much global attention and praised all those, including this newspaper, who had supported the pair.
Capt Chawla added: “We are very happy the big nightmare is over. We can’t express in words how we feel or the support we’ve received.”
The Hebei Two have been prevented from leaving the country for more than 18 months since the anchored tanker Hebei Spirit was holed by a drifting Samsung crane barge in December 2007. The subsequent spill, involving more than 10,500 tonnes of oil, caused South Korea’s worst environmental disaster.
The two senior officers were today finally cleared of destruction of property in a High Court judgment that confirmed a decision by South Korea’s Supreme Court on April 23 to overturn the conviction and jail sentences ironically imposed by the High Court last December.
But the convictions and fines against the two men for not doing enough to prevent oil leaking from the Hebei Spirit were ignored by both courts and remain in force. Capt Chawla was fined Won20m ($15,900) and Mr Chetan Won10m.
Responding to the two men’s release Intertanko pledged the shipping industry would continue to fight for justice for the Hebei Two.
Intertanko managing director Peter Swift told Lloyd’s List: “They still have the guilty charge and we are going to fight with others to clear their name. In that respect the campaign continues.”
Intertanko was “delighted” the two men “have finally been released after being held in Korea for 550 days”.
But the tanker group said it remained “surprised and disappointed at the decision to dismiss the appeal concerning the charges of pollution and to uphold the pollution fines”.
It added: “We are also dismayed that this pollution charge falls short of the ‘innocent of all charges’ verdict handed down by the Daejeon District Court in June 2008” when the Hebei Two were initially prosecuted.
Intertanko’s comments were echoed by other industry groups.
The International Chamber of Shipping and the International Shipping Federation were “delighted that the master and chief officer of the Hebei Spirit will finally be allowed to return home to their families”.
But they added: “ICS and ISF are disappointed that the charge of causing pollution was not overturned and the innocent verdict of the court of first instance reinstated.”
V.Ships which managed the Hebei Spirit and has supported the two men throughout their time in South Korea also expressed delight and disgust.
President Roberto Giorgi told Lloyd’s List in Oslo: “It is excellent news for them and their families — they can finally go back home. Naturally we are all very excited.
“But we now need to clear their names completely from the allegation that they were responsible for the pollution because they were completely innocent of that.”
He added: “I think also the Maritime Labour Convention should be amended to contain some more robust measures to fight unfair criminalisation of seafarers. We need to think as an industry about how we can protect our seafarers”.
Summing up the treatment of the Hebei Two, Mr Giorgi said: “This has been a shameful act against two brave guys.”
The treatment of the Hebei Two caused international outrage with demonstrations in India and a global effort at industry and diplomatic levels to free the men.
Asked about future plans, Capt Chawla said: “We just want to go home and have a long vacation.”
The two men and their families plan to meet the Indian ambassador today to thank him for the help consular officials have provided.
The pair will finally leave South Korea over the weekend after authorities lift the exit ban on the men.
Indian seafarer unions, which launched a boycott of South Korea products in support of the two officers, are planning a welcoming party at Mumbai airport.
But National Union of Seafarers of India general secretary Abdulgani Serang said it would be a low key affair because they did not want to unfairly delay the officers’ return home. A large welcoming reception would be arranged later.
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