KARACHI, Sept 23: The Sindh High Court allowed the Karachi Port Trust on Tuesday to remove or cause to be removed the shipwreck of the oil tanker Tasman Spirit from its present precarious position to a safer place within its jurisdiction.

The consensus order was passed by Justice Ataur Rahman on an application moved by the KPT in a suit instituted by half a dozen insurance companies against the owners of the Tasman Spirit and the auxiliary vessel Endeavour-II for the recovery of Rs883,296,000 on account of their alleged negligence in plying a ship unfit for a voyage.

The trust stated in its application that under Section 89 of the KPT Act, it was responsible for keeping the port and shipping lanes clear for traffic. If the precariously poised wreckage of the oil tanker broke loose, the port would be effectively closed. Besides, the company engaged in salvage operation could not bring in the heavy equipment it needed for the operation due to congestion. The application was not opposed by the plaintiffs or the defendants and was allowed by the court.

The defendants, meanwhile, waived notice of an application moved by the plaintiffs for transfer of the 36,000 tons of oil salvaged from the grounded tanker to the Pakistan Refinery, the consignee. They, however, sought time for filing a counter-affidavit and a rejoinder.

The plaintiffs stated in their application that the consignment might suffer depreciation or cause further pollution or safety hazard if not promptly delivered to the consignee. The cargo was covered by the bill of lading and the insurers were entitled to seek its release, it said.

The KPT application for joining in the proceedings as an intervener will be heard on Sept 30, by which date the defendants will also file their rejoinder to the plaintiffs’ plea for arrest and sale of the grounded vessel till a full and final settlement of their claims.

STUDENTS’ PETITION: The additional district and sessions judge, Karachi East, Nadeem Akhund, on Tuesday issued notice to officials of the Adamjee Public School, Kathiawar Society, the Tipu Sultan police station SHO and others for Sept 26 on a petition filed on behalf of the students against the school administration, adds PPI.