Probo Koala

background information

This case is about a Dutch trading company Trafigura which is in possession of a ship (the Probo Koala) that contains of a substation of water, gasoline and caustic soda (slops). They had to process these slops by a authorized company. It agreed with the cheapest deal but then it was discovered that the slops where far more toxic than expected. Trafigura traveled to several companies for waste management, but finally set seal near Abidjan. The slops was dumped over ten different locations near Abidjan, the outcome was disastrous. Ten people died and 10.000’s of people suffered from health issues. Three people were arrested in Ivory Coast. In the Netherlands the CEO of APS and the captain of the Probo Koala were arrested.

Trafigura tried to get rid of that cargo in a well-organized society, the Netherlands. Then Trafigura and APS would have acted Right. However, when APS discovered the real toxicity of the slops the costs would substantially increase. This increase in price scared Trafigura away. However it can be questioned if APS was acting right in the “what we owe others” principle. Looking at that principle they might have had the duty to inform the therefore designated authorities when Trafigura decided to manage its shipment somewhere else. She has been stopped a couple of times but every time the Probo Koala got permission to continue its way. All legal it appears. So after leaving Trafigura decided to travel to a less well organized society where the “what we owe others” moral has not the same standards as their domestic Western Society. The employees as free thinking Western individuals have put their own benefit first by trying to dump their highly toxic and dangerous waste in the cheapest and easiest way possible. This happened at a high risk for humans and the environment. Trafigura acted within the boundaries of Right they act opposite of the “what we owe others” morality.

s423886