The ill-fated cargo vessel the Westerhaven could leave the country as early as next week. That’s the latest development following court proceedings this evening. Viewers will recall that the Port Authority had arrested the ship until it could obtain security from a local bank or insurance company.
However, this afternoon, their attorney Michael Young submitted that attempts to do just that were unsuccessful. It turns out that the institutions they approached demanded that the requisite US$6.5 million be deposited in cash as collateral. The ship’s owners couldn’t come up with the cash so today they appeared before the Chief Justice asking for a modified order so that they could use a paper guarantee from standard protection and indemnity club.
According to Ports Commissioner Lloyd Jones, this type of guarantee is the norm in maritime affairs. Because of the lateness of the hour tonight, the Port Authority’s lawyer, Lois Young and the ship’s counsel, Michael Young agreed to work out the terms of the draft agreement and present that document to the Chief Justice tomorrow morning. Once the guarantee is signed off by the Port Authority, the vessel, its crew and cargo could go their way as early as next Tuesday.
The captain in charge of the ship at the time of the accident, Fritz Shroeder, left the country weeks ago. A replacement captain has now taken control of the Westerhaven. The vessel was on its way from Belize City to a Guatemalan port when it crashed into the barrier reef near Caye Glory in mid-January causing US$26.9 million in damage to the reef.
