'Mystery ship' MV Jireh finally docks - Border Force officials now at Portland Harbour
BORDER force officials are at Portland Harbour after 'mystery' ship MV Jireh docked.
She left local waters on Saturday, anchoring in Weymouth Bay after crossing the English Channel.
Around12.30am this morning she made her way into Portland Harbour, docking at 1.52am.
Dorset Police said an operation at the port was being led by the Border Force.
MV Jireh – a former Norwegian fjord ferry apparently en route from Norway to Dakar in Senegal – anchored off Gorey in Jersey on Saturday 9 November and initially told authorities there that they had sufficient supplies and fuel.
The crew of the Nigerian-registered ship later asked to be allowed to dock in St Helier Harbour, but when they were told they needed to appoint agents to represent them, they left Jersey waters.
The boat was moored in the Little Russel from Wednesday 13 November.
She had been at sea since 28 October when she left the Norwegian port of Rubbestadneset.
Previously owned by Norled, the ro-ro/passenger ship was sold earlier this year to Herald Marine and Energy Ltd, having been on the market for $460,000.
On one occasion, clothes and food were delivered to the vessel when she was in the Little Russel.
The crew had wanted to dock in St Peter Port harbour for safety reasons, pledging to stay on board and comply with any local regulations.
Guernsey Harbours said there were no suitable berths.
Jireh is 45metres long – by comparison the Condor Liberation is 102 metres and the Sark Belle 21 metres.
On Friday afternoon, the crew said they had nine days of supplies left with water being rationed.
