"Solomon Islands landowners file for compensation over 300-tonne oil spill near world heritage site", 31 January 2025

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More than half a decade later, locals are fighting for justice.

Today, a legal team representing the landowners will file a civil suit in the Solomon Islands High Court against the insurer, Korean Protection and Indemnity (KPI), and ship owner, King Trader Ltd, demanding compensation for the oil spill. 

The Solomon Islands government is also expected to file a claim as part of the same proceedings before the statute of limitations lapses on February 5.

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In response to the civil suit being launched, KPI, the insurer, said the Solomon Islands government sent the company a claim in October 2021. 

"KPI replied asking for clarification but did not receive a reply," a KPI spokesperson said. "We have not received court proceeding notification at this stage.

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The KPI spokesperson also referred to a media release it put out in August 2019 at the conclusion of shore cleaning operations. 

At the time it said "as a gesture of goodwill" it donated numerous items used in the Solomon Trader grounding response to local communities "including vehicles, generators, compressors and inflatable boats. Large quantities of rice have also been donated to local families". 

It said it did everything "as quickly and efficiently as possible to make the best of a difficult situation" and thanked the "local cooperation" of the people on Rennell Island. 

Efforts by the ABC to reach King Trader, the ship's owner, were unsuccessful. 

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