Seized cargo vessel ‘stuck’ at Walvis Bay

THE foreign cargo vessel Lamo, which was ‘arrested’ in Namibian waters in April, is now anchored outside the port limits at Walvis Bay – with no solution in sight for its crew.

According to the Deputy Sheriff of the harbour town, Attie Barnard, 11 crewmen are still on board the vessel. Its owners owe more than N$28 million to a variety of contractors who have been involved in maintaining the vessel, which is considered unseaworthy.The 3 000 tonnes of scrap metal that was destined for smelting in India is also still on board.The vessel was intercepted in Namibian waters on April 14.It is believed that the Lamo left a Liberian harbour without permission and with too little fuel to reach its destination.The company that the consignment of scrap metal belongs to informed the Namibian authorities of its concerns that the uninsured cargo might be lost because of the bad condition of the ship.A Namibian patrol vessel intercepted the Lamo and had it towed to Walvis Bay.It was first anchored at the tanker jetty but has been moved outside the port limits because there is still no sign of a settlement in the case, Barnard said.Reports that the crew planned to sell the scrap metal for N$14 million for personal gain were not true, according to Barnard.”They just tried to get as far as they could with the vessel without incurring too much expenses.Their fuel supply ran out, and now they’re stuck, and will remain stuck until the owners have settled their debt.The scrap is still destined for India.”He added that only time would tell whether the vessel would be put up for auction to pay the debt.Its owners owe more than N$28 million to a variety of contractors who have been involved in maintaining the vessel, which is considered unseaworthy.The 3 000 tonnes of scrap metal that was destined for smelting in India is also still on board.The vessel was intercepted in Namibian waters on April 14.It is believed that the Lamo left a Liberian harbour without permission and with too little fuel to reach its destination.The company that the consignment of scrap metal belongs to informed the Namibian authorities of its concerns that the uninsured cargo might be lost because of the bad condition of the ship.A Namibian patrol vessel intercepted the Lamo and had it towed to Walvis Bay.It was first anchored at the tanker jetty but has been moved outside the port limits because there is still no sign of a settlement in the case, Barnard said.Reports that the crew planned to sell the scrap metal for N$14 million for personal gain were not true, according to Barnard.”They just tried to get as far as they could with the vessel without incurring too much expenses.Their fuel supply ran out, and now they’re stuck, and will remain stuck until the owners have settled their debt.The scrap is still destined for India.”He added that only time would tell whether the vessel would be put up for auction to pay the debt.