A POSH Terasea salvage tug has been used by US authorities to tow a North Korean sanctions busting bulk carrier from Indonesia to American territory.
The 12,000-bhp Salviceroy (built 2007) towed the 27,881-dwt Wise Honest (built 1989) to American Samoa, according to the Associated Press (AP).
“A POSH Terasea vessel had been engaged by a US marine services company for the towage of the Wise Honest, which was towed from Indonesia and has since arrived in American Samoa,” a spokesperson for POSH told TradeWinds.
The voyage from Indonesia, where the ship was detained in early April 2018, to Pago Pago reportedly took about three weeks.
American Samoa was chosen because of “its central strategic location” US Coast Guard public affairs officer Amanda Wyrick told AP.
“We also have a good strong relationship and partnership with the American Samoan government,” Wyrick said.
“With that being said, we also already have the resources that are able to ensure the security of the vessel but most importantly the Port of Pago Pago.”
Last week, US authorities reported that they had seized the Wise Honest, a handysize bulker they allege has been involved in sanctions busting.
The Wise Honest is said to have been used to illicitly ship coal from North Korea and to deliver heavy machinery back to the country.
The ship’s detention was described as the “first-ever seizure of a North Korean cargo vessel for violating international sanctions.
From at least November 2016 through April 2018, the Wise Honest was allegedly used by Korea Songi Shipping Company, to export coal from North Korea to foreign purchasers and import machinery to North Korea, according to the documents filed in Manhattan federal court.
In connection with the sanctions busting activities, Kwon Chol Nam, one of Korea Songi Shipping Company’s representatives, is said to have paid for numerous improvements, equipment purchases, and service expenditures for the Wise Honest in US dollars through what was described as “unwitting US financial institutions”.
Payments totaling more than $750,000 were transmitted through accounts at a US financial institution in connection with the March 2018 shipment of coal on board the Wise Honest, the DoJ said.
