A drug-smuggling investigation in Mexico took one of Brave Maritime’s handysize bulkers out of play for three months.
But now the 33,400-dwt Princesse Oui (built 2015) has sailed from Veracruz after Mexican authorities concluded their investigation, a company executive told TradeWinds.
“We believe that the vessel was targeted [by smugglers] because she stayed at Veracruz anchorage for several days and at that time she was on subs for a voyage that would take her back to [the] US,” said the official, who was not willing to be identified by name or title.
The Princesse Oui is under technical management of Vafias family-controlled Brave Maritime, with protection and indemnity cover from NorthStandard, under the Liberian flag and Bureau Veritas class.
As in last month’s case of the Laskaridis-controlled, 75,100-dwt Atlas (built 2012) in Italy, the smuggled drugs were discovered in the vessel’s sea chest, far below the waterline and inaccessible from within the ship.
Port authorities reported the size of the three packages of cocaine at 90 kg and estimated the drug’s value at around the equivalent of $2m. In the Atlas shipment, the sea chest was found to contain 570 small packages of about 850 kg of cocaine in all.
The official underscored to TradeWinds that Brave Maritime’s own inspection led to the discovery, and the master stepped forward to report the find.
“Brave at all times fully cooperated with the authorities, while at the same time we tried to speed up the process, given that vessel’s interests were the innocent party, and they were the ones who found the drugs and informed the authorities,” the executive said. “Unfortunately, the formal process had to be followed and this took time.”
The Princesse Oui had arrived in ballast from the US on 4 February.
The Brave Maritime executive told TradeWinds: “[We] had arranged a scheduled, routine underwater inspection [UWI] survey as per class requirements with commercial divers appointed by Brave. The UWI survey was conducted on 16 February in the presence of class.
“During the UWI, the divers reported to the captain that they had identified some suspicious bags attached to the vessel’s sea chest.
“Immediately, the captain informed the office, and Brave proceeded and notified all relevant authorities, including the port authorities, flag, agents, time charterers, insurance and [seafarers’ union] ITF.”
Unlike some cases, the shoreside authorities allowed the crew their freedom during the prolonged idle period.
“The Mexican Navy removed the suspicious bags and subsequently the Mexican authorities conducted a series of interviews and investigations that quickly identified that there was no involvement of the crew and the owners, but, given the judicial system of Mexico, the vessel was required to stay in port until a formal lengthy process was followed,” the executive said.
“In fact, the crew was able to freely go ashore or even repatriate without any restriction, which was indicative of the fact that authorities had no concerns about any involvement from [the] managers’, owners’ and vessel’s side.
“Indeed, the Mexican authorities treated the crew well and we had no complaints from our crew.”
