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Following an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sinking of a ship owned and operated by the Harrington Company, wherein it was uncovered that the vessel had been destroyed due to a miscalculation on the part of the Beiteynuese Navy, Chief Factor of the HC Dr Joseph Williamson confirmed that it [the Harrington Company] had every intention of seeking compensation. Speaking at a mini-press conference at the Harrington Company’s headquarters in Harrington, Dr Williamson spoke to the intimate details of the company’s investigation into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the HCS-Cantu. He explained that the vessel was en route from refuelling in Sardian wherein it would have made its final stop in Kafuristan to unload its primary cargo: sulfur. During its transit through the “gap” between Cildania and Badara, the vessel was supposedly mistaken for a combatant warship and subsequently engaged. CCTV imagery recovered from the cloud showed that a sea-skimming anti-ship missile had emerged from the horizon: identifiable by its condensation trail which had dissipated moments before the missile entering into its final stage. With the conflict formally concluded, a salvage team was finally able to be dispatched to the area wherein undersea images showed that the vessel had been struck on the starboard side at a space between the engine room and the cargo hold. Sulfur is an extremely flammable metal and when brought into contact with water can lead to an explosion. However, safety standards dictate that such a highly reactive metal be secured in contained storage. Luckily, as the vessel began to take in water due to the hole created by the missile, much of the cargo hold had been sealed/contained. The salvage team reportedly has identified that the now sunken vessel still indeed contains significant amounts of sulfur and is said to be devising a plan (with the help of international companies) to rescue the contained sulfur.
Dr Williamson stated that of the ship’s crew of 15, only four survived as they were rescued by Badaran and Cildania search and rescue personnel. He lamented that the loss of life could have been avoided notwithstanding both the miscalculation on the part of the Beiteynuese Navy and the fact that the vessel was originally not supposed to have been traversing anywhere near the area. According to Williamson, the HCS-Cantu’s captain had either ignored or simply did not know of the Lodamese Coast Guard’s general warning for ships connected to the company and Lodamun as a whole to avoid the area. “Although it is simple speculation, we [the Harrington Company], believe that Captain Isaac Kennard [the ship’s captain] was either blatantly ignorant of the warning or was not aware of it, recognising that when the warning was sent out, our GPS data notes that the vessel was in transit along the Likatonian coast near Pirland.” Dr Williamson explained. Notwithstanding this caveat, the Chief Factor noted that the Harrington Company intended to seek compensation for the destroyed vessel, its cargo and the crewmembers lost. He noted that he had been in contact with the families of the men and women lost and they have expressed their support for the HC’s decision to seek compensation partially on their behalf. “It is our [the Harrington Company’s] intention to seek compensation for this miscalculation. We have formally communicated this matter to the Beiteynuese Government in an official communique, and it is our hope that we will be successful given the facts we’ve outlined.” Williamson noted.
With the Carver Administration currently in its transition period, Acting Merchant-General Issac Rivera (who was recently appointed to guide the transition with the Harrington Company), confirmed that incoming Merchant-General Doug Halleck had great intentions of addressing the issue of compensation on day one. He noted that although the Harrington Company seeks compensation for the vessel, its cargo and crew, it does not maintain/hold animosity against Beiteynu nor its Government. “We have stated ad nasseum that we are not interested in games of whispers and intrigue. We are simply seeking compensation for what was a very tragic event and we hope persons looking on at this will address it with the respect is so justly deserves.” Rivera proclaimed.