A Chinese-owned livestock carrier has been languishing under arrest in Singapore since the end of October as POSH Projects, the operator of the tug that towed it there from eastern Australia, seeks to recoup $1.8m it claims is still outstanding on the bill.
Records at the High Court of Singapore reveal that before the 11,670-gt Yangtze Harmony (built 2004) arrived in Singapore on 25 October, Svitzer Australia had lodged a tug-related claim totalling AUD 70,000 ($44,900) against the ship, while Glander International Bunkering had filed a $200,000 bunker claim.
Documentation submitted to the High Court indicates that Soar Harmony Shipping, the registered owner of the Yangtze Harmony, engaged POSH Projects to tow the Yangtze Harmony from Brisbane in Queensland to Singapore, which was undertaken by the 16,300-bhp anchor-handling tug POSH Eagle (built 2013).
POSH Projects alleges that it is still owed $775,000 for the third and final instalment of the towage price. The rest of the claim is for delay compensation, tow reconnection charges, deviation charges and other miscellaneous matters.
Soar Harmony has notified the High Court that it intends to fight the claim.
The S&P Global International Ships Register lists the Yangtze Harmony as being operated by Dalian-based Accord Ship Management, which TradeWinds was unable to reach for comment.
The ship was converted from a container vessel in 2017 by Sinomarine Livestock Carriers, a joint venture between Sinotrans and CSC, and used to launch an export trade of live cows from Australia to China.
The vessel can carry either 5,000 cattle or 18,000 sheep.
