In Re Central Gulf Lines, Inc.

ORDER AND REASONS

LIVAUDAIS, District Judge.

These two consolidated civil actions concern the June 19, 1997 collision of the GREEN OPAL, an ocean-going vessel, and LASH barge CG-F70, a dumb, unmanned barge in the tow of the tug KAM-RUP in the Hooghly River between Haldia and Calcutta, India. The LASH barge CG-F70 was bareboat chartered to Waterman Steamship Corporation (‘Waterman”), the tug KAMRUP was operated by Eastern Navigation Pvt. Ltd. (“Eastern”), a towing contractor operating in and around Haldia and Calcutta, India, and the GREEN OPAL was owned by R.L. Baron Shipping, S.A. (“Baron”).…