All sides in the battle over the fatal explosion on the container ship MSC Flaminia are awaiting a decision by a panel of three US appeals court judges over whether Stolt-Nielsen and chemical maker Deltech should bear the liability from the incident.

In Stolt's appeal to the US Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Oslo-listed chemical shipping company's lawyers have claimed that US District Court Judge Katherine Forrest erred in her decision holding the two companies responsible.