Americas News
Stranded Ship Owes $1.2M
A cargo ship has been stranded in the U.S. Delaware River for almost three months, with the Greek owner allegedly owing $1.2 million, local newspaper the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The U.S. Coast Guard is demanding operational repairs to the Nikol H, which is owned by Derna Carriers SA (Derna).
The owner has not paid bills since April, and vendors and other parties have sued over the cost of fuel, food, and supplies they have provided to the ship.
The crew, which includes an Egyptian captain, one Ukrainian, and 18 Filipino seamen, has been stuck on board.
Crew members' visas have expired, and while several of them have received U.S. Customs "paroles" to go home, they have no easy access to transportation from the ship, which is in the middle of the river.
The ship agent, G.M. Richards Enterprises, is paying the crew, food and water are available, and ship generators and air conditioning systems are working.
"Morale is OK," said Capt. Ali Affar.
"Hopefully, the crew will feel better after the ship berths and they have a chance to visit ashore."
The Coast Guard cited the ship for operational deficiencies in April and ordered it not to sail until repairs were made.
Derna says it does not have money to pay for repairs.
German bank Bremer Landesbank holds the mortgage on the vessel, and Derna is in default.
According to online intelligence and information service VesselsValue.com, Nikol H has a current scrap value of $6.6 million today and a scrap value of $2.2 million.
Another Derna vessel, Isis, was detained in the UK early this year, according to news site Shipping Herald.
