On Jan 30, 2025, the 'Sayedona' was detained in Galati with 27 deficiencies, 13 of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - SOPEP Missing 2) Certificate & Doc - Manning specified by the minimum safe manning doc Not as required 3) Life saving Appliances - Lifeboats Not properly maintained 4) Labour conditions - Training and qualification of ships cook Not as required 5) Safety of navigation - Nautical publications Expired 6) Safety of navigation - Echo sounder Inoperative 7) Safety of navigation - Lights, shapes and sound-signals Missing 8)) Safety of navigation - Lights, shapes and sound-signals Not as required 9) Structural conditions - Steering gear Inoperative 10) Structural conditions - Decks - Corrosion Corroded 11) Emergency systems - Emergency fire pump and its pipes Insufficient pressure 12) Water/Weathertight - Manholes/Flush scuttles Not as required 13) Fire safety - Means of escape Blocked The vessel was released again on Feb 7, but the inspection led to a refusal of access to ParisMOU ports for the next three months: The last detentions were on Oct 9, 2024, in Alexandria with 35 deficiencies for 19 days, on May 26 in Batumi with 27 deficiencies, on Feb 29 in Larnaca with 28 deficiencies for 15 days, on Jan 23 in Poti, Georgia withg three deficiencies for three days and on July 24, 2023, in Thessaloniki with 24 deficiencies for ten days. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
News
MY AMADEA
The U.S. government has argued in an evidentiary hearing in New York that the sanctioned Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov was the owner of the 'Amadea', making it subject to forfeiture. The federal prosecutors stated last week that the yacht is owned and controlled by the Russian billionaire and that his use and improvements of the vessel violated the sanctions that were imposed on him in 2018 by the U.S. Treasury Department, in consultation with the Department of State. It had imposed sanctions on seven Russian oligarchs, 12 companies they owned or controlled, 17 senior Russian government officials, a state-owned Russian weapons trading company and its subsidiary and a Russian bank. Suleiman Kerimov was included in these sanctions for his role as an official of the Russian Federation and a member of the Russian Federation Council. He was alleged to have moved hundreds of millions of euros into France, in addition to conducting standard fund transfers without disclosing the money to French tax authorities. In 2023, Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Michael Khoo and David Lim, Co-Directors of Task Force KleptoCapture, announced the filing of a civil forfeiture complaint against the 'Amadea'. It was alleged that Suleiman Kerimov had improved and maintained the yacht in violation to the sanctions imposed on him. The complaint alleged that the 'Amadea' was therefore forfeitable, based on violations of U.S. law, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) and money laundering violations. Despite the allegations against Kerimov, another Russian businessman, Eduard Khudainatov, claimed ownership of the 'Amadea' and was seeking to reclaim it. While Khudainatov is not under U.S. sanctions, he was blacklisted by the European Union in June 2022. At the closing arguments of an evidentiary hearing in New York, the prosecutors asserted that Khudainatov had sold the yacht to Kerimov in Sept 2021, while retaining the title to act as its straw owner. In contrast, Khudainatov's legal team insisted the yacht was never sold and argued that simply the holding title was sufficient to establish standing in the case. On Feb 5 the U.S. Justice Department announced that it was shutting down Task Force KleptoCapture, a key initiative launched in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine to enforce sanctions and seize the assets of oligarchs close to the Kremlin. Adam Ford, a lawyer for Khudainatov, criticised the dissolution of the task force, asserting that closing arguments further reinforced Khudainatov’s claim to ownership. The Task Force KleptoCapture was instrumental in prosecuting Russian oligarchs and seizing their assets as part of a wider strategy to isolate Moscow from global financial markets. Since its inception, the task force led to the seizure of yachts belonging to sanctioned oligarchs, including Suleiman Kerimov and Viktor Vekselberg. While ongoing cases initiated by the task force will continue, its dissolution means the work will no longer be coordinated from Justice Department headquarters.
EMONA
On Jan 30, 2025, the 'Emona' was detained in Gemlik with 38 deficiencies, 21 of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - Safety Management Certificate Missing 2) Certificate & Doc - Minimum Safe Manning Doc Missing 3) Certificate & Doc - Tonnage certificate Missing 4) Certificate & Doc - Other (certificate) Other 5) Structural conditions - Closing devices/watertight doors Damaged 6) Structural conditions - Ballast, fuel and other tanks Holed 7) Structural conditions - Other (Structural) Other 8)) Life saving Appliances - Inflatable liferafts Not ready for use 9) Life saving Appliances - Buoyant apparatus Insufficient 10) Life saving Appliances - Rescue boats inventory Missing 11) Water/Weathertight - Doors Damaged 12) Water/Weathertight - Ventilators, air pipes and casings Damaged 13) Fire safety - Fire detection and alarm system Inoperative 14) Fire safety - Other (Fire safety) Other 15) Living and working - Personal equipment Missing equipment 16) Emergency systems - Abandon ship drills Insufficient frequency 17) Emergency systems - Enclosed space entry and rescue drills No records 18) Pollution Prevention - Sewage discharge connection Not as required 19) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Bilge pumping arrangements Not as required 20) Radio communications - Other (Radio comm) Other 21) ISM - Other (ISM) Other The vessel was released again on Feb 4 and permitted a single voyage to the Tuzla shipyard area for permanent repairs. The last detentions were on Oct 22, 2024, in Karadeniz Eregli with 13 deficiencies for three days and on Sep 14, 2023, in Kocaeli with 20 deficiencies also for three days. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
MEDSTRAUM
The 'Medstraum' was taken out of service in Stavanger after its battery capacity dropped to 84 percent on Jan 2, 2025. The problems arose when the shipping company increased the ship's operating time, which naturally created increased pressure on the battery packs of the Corvus Energy. Prior to the phase-out, the shipping company Fjord1 had to charge much more frequently than usual because the battery was unable to store enough energy. This led to more frequent charging and delays in the service. The battery system is designed to handle specific loads and cycles. When these parameters change significantly, as was the case with the 'Medstraum', it can lead to overload and ultimately failure. The problem has created a mood of rebellion on Vassøy and the other city islands.
ESPERANZA B
On Nov 27, 2024, the 'Esperanza B' was detained in Mersin with nine deficiencies, six of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Structural conditions - Bulkhead - corrosion Not as required 2) Structural conditions - Beams, frames, floors-corrosion Not as required 3) Structural conditions - Other (Structural) Other 4) Water/Weathertight - Cargo and other hatchways Corroded 5) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Auxiliary machinery Not as required 6) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Other (Machinery) The vessel was relased again on Jan 14, 2025 and permitted a single voyage to the Tuzla shipyard area for permanent repairs, where it remained stationary as of Feb 10. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591