Daw Mi Mi Khaing, the widow of the ship’s captain, signs compensation payout documents at a ceremony in Yangon earlier this month. She is being assisted by a Yangon repre-sentative of the Singapore company that operated the ship.

THE relatives of victims of an explosion on a cargo ship in the Caribbean Sea off Colombia earlier this year have received millions of dollars in compensation payments.

A total of US$2.1 million in compensation payouts was paid into the accounts of victims at the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank earlier this month.

Six Myanmar, including the captain, Kyaw Htay Oo, were killed when the bulk carrier, Ythan, exploded and sank on February 28.

Another three members of the 27 Myanmar crew were seriously injured.

The 21 survivors floated at sea for 10 hours before being rescued by two container ships.

The ship, which was carrying iron bars from Venezuela to China via the Panama Canal, was operated by the Singapore-based Eastwind Ship Management company and owned by a New York company.

The compensation was paid under an arrangement between the ship’s insurer, the P and I Club, and the Singapore company to double payout amounts set by the Department of Marine Administration.

An average of $120,000 was paid to the families of the deceased, with an extra $30,000 for each child aged under 21. Those aged over 21 received $10,000.

The seamen who survived the blast received at least $15,000 each.

Mr R.N. Saxena, the director and chief executive officer of Eastwind Ship Management, told MT that most of the crew members had long service with the company.

“We appreciate their hard work for us, that’s why we pressured the insurance company to double the compensation and arrange extra payments,” Mr Saxena said.

Daw Mi Mi Khaing, the widow of U Kyaw Htay Oo, and her three children received the largest compensation payments, of $322,000.

A grateful Daw Mi Mi Khaing said at a ceremony to sign the payment documents at the Sedona Hotel on August 12 that the compensation would ensure the future of her children.

The director of the Seamen Employment Control Division under the Department of Marine Administration, U Thaung Kyaing, expressed appreciation of the move by Eastwind Ship Management to arrange the higher payouts.