DONALD DUCKLING

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Donald Duckling sold to Chinese buyers

The "Donald Duckling" has been detained at the former McNulty yard in South Shieldson the Tyne since January has chzanged hands during a UK Admiralty Court-administered sale. The detention was served for a number of reasons, including mechanical and safety issues. The ship has been bought by Chinese buyers for an undisclosed price. Brokers valued the vessel at around $ 6m and it was estimated to be worth $ 4m decommissioned and stripped. There were several creditors with claims against the ship, including the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) – which paid for crew repatriation – cargo owner EMS, the Port of Tyne and local ship agencies. The new owner will have to carry out repairs that meet the approval of the UK’s Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) before it may be allowed to sail. The MCA had earlier abandoned an enhanced port-state control inspection saying it would be suspended until initial repairs have been carried out. The majority of the largely Philippino crew had returned to their homeland at the turn of the year.

Donald Duckling put up for sale

The "Donald Duckling" which has been berthed at the former McNulty yard in South Shields since January 2014 has been put up for sale. Previously, it had been detained at the Northumbrian Quay on the north of the river from the the middle of November 2013 by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), because of a long list of safety concerns. The action was taken when it was found to be in an appalling state of disrepair. Its largely Filipino crew – the majority of whom returned to their homeland at the turn of the year – were forced to fish off the side of the vessel for food after their supplies ran out. The vessel has remained in a state of limbo ever since with its Taiwanese owner, TMT Shipping, failing to carry out any of the repairs required. The Admiralty Court of England now has stepped in and been granted an order to sell the vessel by tender. The vessel is under the arrest of the Admiralty Court in the care and custody of the Admiralty Marshall. The closing date for bids passed earlier this week. If a successful tender would be identified, the necessary repairs would need to be carried out before the ship can leave the river Tyne. The vessel had previously been detained for 121 days in Gibraltar in 2013, after 21 safety deficiencies were discovered by port state control officers. It had arrived at Port of Tyne to load a cargo of scrap metal bound for Korea with 15 days of provisions. But faulty refrigeration meant they lasted only three days. The Apostleship of the Seas and other port-based agencies, such as the Mission to Seafarers at South Shields, provided food and drinking water for the crew, with the help of the local community. Maritime inspectors found out that conditions on board the cargo ship were among the worst they had ever seen. Report with photo: http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/business/eyesore-ship-donald-duckling-put-up-for-sale-1-6782400

TMT’s Donald Duckling: the unwelcome guest at Port of Tyne

The Port of Tyne has just reported its highest cargo volumes for more than 50 years, handling 8.1m tonnes of cargo in 2013, a 22% increase on 2012. But not all ships calling at the Northeast of England port have been welcomed with open arms. Bankrupt TMT vessel Donald Duckling had detained by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) since November 2013. The vessel is now unmanned and berthed at the former McNulty Offshore Quay at South Shields – and there is no indication as to how much longer she will be playing the unwelcome guest. Owned by Nobu Su’s TMT, which has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the Panama-flagged Donald Duckling arrived in the Tyne with 18 crew on board, from Romania, India and the Philippines, and a “reputation” which meant that port state control officer Alan Thomson, who is surveyor in charge for the MCA on the Tyne, knew what to expect. The vessel had previously been detained in Gibraltar for 120 days and then been detained in Las Palmas for non-payment of wages and a lack of food, amongst other issues. There were stories of the ship breaking down mid-voyage and the crew fishing over the side for food.