The container ship “Sv. Georgy” (ex “Varna 5”) was arrested in Istanbul, Turkey for unpaid expenses for fuel and supplies by the previous charterer. All the crew members were taken to the police station in Istanbul for interrogation, while the ship was detained into the Turkish port before clearing the situation. The official press release of the shipowner explained that the problem with the container ship “Sv. Georgy” is because of unpaid expenses of the previous charterer of the vessel and there is no connection with their operations. The container vessel is operated by the scandalous Bulgarian shipowner Seaborne Trade, which also owns the grievously known “Sv. Nikolay”, arrested with 2.7 tones of cocaine on board in Cadiz, Spain a few days ago. The company was investigated for drug traffic from Latin America to Europe and connections with organized criminal groups. In Turkey are taken 22 Bulgarian seamen, which future is unknown, as the company operating with the vessel has no intentions to pay the tribute to the Turkish supply company. The owner of Seaborne Trade – Doychin Doychev, was arrested by the Bulgarian Police and against him will be raised accuses for participation of organized criminal group for drug traffic.
The container ship “Sv. Georgy” (IMO: 8518065) has length of 124.00 m, beam of 21.00 m and summer draft of 8.00 m. The deadweight of the vessel is 8,075 DWT and the gross tonnage is 7,455 GRT. The ship was previously owner by Navigation Maritime Bulgare (NavBul) and carried the name Varna, but later was sold to Seaborne Trade under the name “Varna 5”. The container ship was renamed previous month to “Sv. Georgy”, mostly because of concerns for such legal actions against the vessel. The ship was built in 1987 in the Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon Gijon.
The company Seaborne Trade is one of the most scandalous shipowners in Bulgaria, as the company got into the Police chronicles with the bulk carrier Vanessa, which sank in Azov Sea. During the accident died 9 Bulgarian seamen and the main cause of the sinking was mutiny on the ship because of drug traffic. A few days ago the Spanish Police detained the container vessel “Sv. Georgy” with 21 Bulgarian Seamen finding 2.7 tons of cocaine in the cargo holds. The cooperation between Bulgarian and Spanish Police were arrested a few more participants and the organizer of the traffic canal.