
IJJS
Facsimile of The Beirut Tragedy: India's Accoutre in order to Neuter
Author: Gayatri Vishal Shirdhonkar, Student (LL.M), ILS Law College, Pune, India
Abstract The author of the article has attempted to highlight the causes which led to the Beirut tragedy. The article does not dwell upon what lit fire but rather on the other neglect of the port authorities and government which led the circumstances to be conducive for the blast. The author has attempted to draw attention to the prevailing circumstances of Indian ports and has concluded the article by providing a few suggestions. M V Rhosus, a Moldovan flagged cargo ship, was docked in Beirut in 2013 due to technical hiccups. This Russian- leased ship, was in route to the Republic of Mozambique from Georgia when an unanticipated order was received to alter the route towards Beirut port. The Captain of the ship, Boris Prokoshev, and his crew were ordered to make an unscheduled stop at the Beirut port to collect additional freight. However, upon its arrival in the capital city of Lebanon, a convoluted legal dispute over port fees inculpated the owners. The vessel, as well as the cargo, 2750 tonnes of highly combustible ammonium nitrate, was impounded and was proscribed from leaving the port.
Keywords: Beirut tragedy, Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, MV Rhosus ship.
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