Montgomery McCracken Names Two Maritime Attorneys to Firm Partnership
of counsel. O’Connor is a general litigator and a member of the firm’s Maritime and Transportation practice group. He represents insurers, owners and operators of vessels, and marine fuel suppliers among others. O’Connor also specializes in environmental matters relating to oil pollution and coral damage under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, emissions regulations under MARPOL, and criminal investigations under the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. In addition, he has significant experience handling claims arising from major marine casualties such as collisions, allisions and
Vikoma Announces New General Manager and Director
Oil Pollution and environmental technology company Vikoma International Limited has appointed Karen Lucas as its new General Manager and Director. Lucas is to take on the role and lead Vikoma’s day-to-day operations alongside the Vikoma Board. Karen joins the company with more than 20 years of industry and management experience and a track record in business growth. A member of the chartered institute of certified accountants, she played a key role in the U.K. and international expansion of the Strainstall Group, a group specializing in the design and manufacture of load and stress monitoring
Disasters at Sea & Their Impact on Shipping Regulation
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ships (MARPOL) in 1973, and is credited with moving the IMO into environmental and legal issues with the Civil Liability Convention of 1969. Activated in 1975, that policy was adopted to ensure that adequate compensation is available to victims of oil pollution resulting from maritime casualties involving oil-carrying ships, and places the liability for such damage on the owner of the polluting ship. • The Amoco Cadiz tanker ran aground due to a steering gear failure on March 16, 1978, three miles from the coast of Brittany,
Montgomery McCracken Adds 3 Maritime Attorneys
and environmental law, and focuses his practice on marine pollution; litigation of marine casualties, such as collisions, groundings and fires at sea; marine salvage and general average; defense of cargo claims; and the arbitration of charter party disputes. He frequently counsels clients on the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), and has substantial experience in representing Responsible Parties with respect to oil spill responses and cleanup, coral reef groundings and restoration, natural resource damage assessments (NRDA), defense of third party claims, and claims for reimbursement to the Oil Spill
