The Hebei Spirit Two: Something doesn't add up

摘要

Something doesn't add up in the Hebei Spirit case. Last month, the Hebei Spirit's Captain Jasprit Chawla and Chief Officer Syam Chetan were sentenced to 1-1/2 years and eight months, respectively, by Korea's Dae-jeon District Court, the Court of Appeal for violating marine law. The men had been found not guilty of the same charges by a lower court on June 24. The case has ignited universal outrage in the shipping world. The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping, INTERCARGO, INTER-MANAGER, the Nautical Institute, and the Hong Kong Shipowners' Association have all condemned the treatment and imprisonment of the two men.