In early October 2015, a ship, The Haidar, carrying approximately 5,000 cattle sank in the port of Vila do Conde, situated in the Para River, Brazil, close to the Atlantic Ocean. Approximately 700,000 litres of marine diesel were spilled, causing widespread water pollution and environmental damage. 

Shortly after the Haidar disaster, the Brazilian Government made demands for the company responsible, Minereva S.A (whose controlling shareholder is the UK based company Salic UK) to present a plan of action to remove the organic and oil pollution released from the ship. They were also instructed to remove the cattle carcasses trapped inside the ship, as well as those that had washed up on the neighbouring beaches or remained within the port.  

Despite this, no plan was made, and no proper remedial steps were taken. It was not until July 2022 that the Haidar ship was removed from its berth, meaning pollution continued to be released into the environment for all this time. 

In failing to take prompt and effective action, those responsible failed in their corporate and environmental responsibilities. 

Seven years on, Pogust Goodhead remains committed to ensuring that the approximately 18,000 individuals affected by the Haidar pollution disaster achieve justice, and we will fight to hold those responsible to account for immediate and future environmental damage.