MV Jireh owners ‘investigating their options’
OWNERS of the mystery ship MV Jireh are investigating their options for repairing and moving the vessel.
After being denied entry to St Helier and St Peter Port harbours, the ship – which had been travelling from Norway to west Africa – moored at Portland Port.
For 11 days from Wednesday 13 November 2019, the vessel was in the Little Russel but crew were told there were no suitable berths to come alongside.
Food and clothing were sent to the ship from the Co-op and the Guernsey branch of the Red Cross.
The day before the ship left, morale among the nine on board was said by the second officer to be low, with only nine days of supplies left and drinking water being used as ballast.
At the end of November 2019 the ship had moved on to Weymouth, where the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s survey and inspection team inspected the vessel and it was detained.
Border Force and Port Health Authorities also attended the vessel on the same day. It had been towed into the port by a commercial company following a power failure, with nine people on board.
The Russian crew had been at sea since 28 October 2019 but were able to get home in time for Christmas thanks to the help of Jonathan Bayliff and his colleagues and friends at seafarers’ support charity the Sailors’ Society.
CEO of Portland Harbour Authority Bill Reeves said the vessel was still safely moored there.
‘We are in regular touch with the owners and they are investigating their options regarding repairs and arranging for the vessel to be taken to her ultimate destination,’ he said.
