April 14, 2014 Letter from the Directorate General of Land and Maritime Transport to the Case Authority
Republic of Lebanon
Ministry of Public Works and Transport
Directorate General of Land & Maritime Transport
Extremely Urgent
6/3187
April 14, 2014
To: The Ministry of Justice
- Cases Authority –
Re: Request to take the necessary action to adjudicate the case of the “Rhosus” ship docked in Beirut Port in a prompt and immediate manner and selling it under auction to avoid the sinking of the ship
Reference: Our letter no: 6/2832, dated April 8, 2014
The file of “The Rhosus”
In reference to the abovementioned subject and reference,
further to our letter no: 6/2832, dated April 8, 2014, attached hereto, and in which we requested you to quickly adjudicate the case of the Rhosus ship docked in Beirut Port, and loaded with ammonium nitrate, which is a hazardous substance and was seized according to ruling no: 2013/1031 issued by the Enforcement Department in Beirut and dated December 20, 2013, and accordingly to take the necessary action to auction the ship in order to avoid the sinking of the ship because of defects that should be repaired, and since this would threaten the safety of the maritime navigation and ecosystem.
We would like to inform you that the mentioned ship is at high risk of sinking which necessitates that you take the appropriate action as soon as possible to adjudicate its case and sell it in a public auction to prevent the ship from sinking in the Beirut Port waters, especially since it is loaded with ammonium nitrate, which threatens the safety of the maritime navigation and ecosystem in the port.
This is to respectfully inform and request you to give this case the utmost attention.
Director General of Land & Maritime Transport
Eng. Abdel Hafiz al-Kaissi
[Signature]
Attached is a copy of our letter no: 6/2832, dated April 8, 2014
Translated by Human Rights Watch