Russian polluting ship not paying fines

TALLINN- The operator of the oil tanker Mekhanik has failed to pay a pollution finetotaling more than five million kroons (320,000 euro). Voronkov causedpollution in Estonia's Muugaport in November 2007 and it has proven to be difficult to claim the money fromRussiathrough legal means.

Leili Tuul, spokesperson for the Estonian EnvironmentInspectorate, said Estonia has sent a claim to the ship's representatives ontwo occasions. First the claim was addressed to a company located in London,which however did not regard itself as bearing liability. The claim was thensent to the ship's Russian operator Volgotanker.

"Claiming pollution charges from Russia has turned outextremely difficult. In lawyer talk the claim is not executable directly, thatis, you cannot claim the money directly through a bailiff," Tuul told BNS.

The Estonian inspectorate has not lost hope and continues tolook for a solution, she added.

More than three tons of heavy oil spilled onto the deck of theMekhanik Voronkov and  into the sea as a result of a technicalmalfunction during the pumping of oil into the tanker at the Pakterminal quayin Muuga port during the night of November 29, 2007.

In the cold water, the heavy oil lumped quickly and pollutionfighting vessels were able to collect it quite successfully.

Some oil however, collected at the pollution site ended upin nearby Ihasalu Bay.