The Paris MOU state control organisation has revealed details of two cargoships found to be in an "indescribable" and "mephitic" condition in Italy and Greece.
The 9,200-dwt general cargoship Virile (built 1992) called at Marina di Carrara in Italy on 6 March to load marble blocks, harvesters and other agricultural vehicles and bulldozers.
It was expected to leave on 14 March.
The vessel, with 18 crew members (an oiler from Honduras, four deck and engine cadets from India and 13 seafarers from Syria), was not eligible for inspection, according to the ship’s priority.
However, on 14 March, a few hours before the commercial operations were completed, Marina di Carrara port state control (PSC) office received a complaint by email regarding the long-lasting non-payment of due wages by the captain and the "shameful" sanitary and safety conditions on board, Paris MOU said.
The PSC team decided to board and noticed that no seafarers engaged in cargo operations were wearing the appropriate protective equipment.
A total of 18 deficiencies were found, of which 13 were considered grounds for detention.
Noxious aroma
Deficiencies included a "mephitic smell" all over the accommodation area, due to sanitary facilities without working flushes, and broken basins with water leakages next to electrical devices.
There was also inoperative or insufficient ventilation, dirty wool covers on mattresses instead of sheets, rain and/or humidity penetrations inside crew quarters and cabins due to cracked windows, and insects and filth found in the galley.
All deficiencies were rectified and the ship left on 21 March.
The last AIS update showed it as underway in the Red Sea in May.
Equasis lists it as "to be broken up," while the owner is given as Tenacity Shipping.
Another vessel, named as Tok Tok, was held in Neapolis, Greece, on 28 January 2018 due to a main engine malfunction, according to the local port authority report.
The vessel was not listed in the Thetis data system, probably because it was never inspected or had never called at one of the Paris MOU ports, the organisation said.
"The external condition of the vessel was extremely degraded," it added.
An inspection eventually took place in December and inspectors found 45 deficiencies, which were considered as clear grounds for detention.
These included no tonnage certificate, fire training manual or shipboard operational booklet. The certificate of registry was falsified.
There was an "insufficient quantity" of fresh provisions and the galley was found in "an indescribable condition."
All over the decks there were broken protective light covers and various bare cables exposed.
The fire detection system, which was installed on board, was found to be out of order.
It remained under detention as of February.
