SAKHALIN SUES BELGIAN FIRM FOR ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, March 28 (RIA Novosti) - Sakhalin Prosecutor General's office filed a law suit against European Dredging Company S.A. from Belgium demanding restitution of damages the Russian Federation incurred as a result of oil spillage from the Cristoforo Colombo dredge, announced prosecutors from the Sakhalin region (Sakhalin is an island in the Okhotskoe Sea).

"The law suit was filed in the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city court by the Sakhalin interregional environmental prosecutor. The Sakhalin environmental protection authorities demand an indemnity in the amount of 8,509,644 rubles ($1 equals 27.71 rubles) to be paid to the Kholmski district, a source close to prosecutor's office told RIA Novosti.

Belgian dredge Cristoforo Colombo was thrown on a rocky shoal near the port of Kholmsk on September 8, 2004, when a powerful typhoon hit the island of Sakhalin.

The ship was contracted to build a sea pipeline for the Sakhalin-2 project. The impact with the rocks ruptured its fuel tanks and engine compartment. As a result, about 28 metric tons of fuel oil and diesel spilt into the sea and on the shore.

Delayed reaction and wrong judgment of Cristoforo Colombo's captain Mr. Nicolas Verbraeken caused the pollution, environmental prosecutor believes.