Info from Poland re s.s. Rotterdam

[wvdleek]

Hello all,

 

I just received following news from my friend in Poland concerning the s.s.

Rotterdam.

 

1. The Maritime Minister has refused to change the ultimatum made by Gdansk

Maritime Authorities.

 

2. Enviromental authorities have said to take out all toxic waste (asbestos

bags), also Maritime Authorities have said so.

 

3. The owners have now broken the deadline. Gdansk Maritime Authorities

gave them a warning and another deadline of 7 more days. After that deadline

expired, they can give the owners a penalty and can send a case to the Head

of Pomorskie County. As a next step in the fight with the owner, the Head of

Pomorskie can rent a tug for the owners cost and have the ship towed out of

Gdansk harbor.

 

 

With thanks to my friend in Gdansk for providing all information.

[wvdleek]

Following yesterday's decision made by the Polish Minister Rafal Wiechecki,

De Rotterdam BV published following statement on their website.

 

Finally some good news :-)))

 

 

= = =

Met vriendelijke groeten / With kind regards

 

Willem H. van der Leek

"It's good to see a well-run site!"

http://www.vdleek.nl

 

= = =

 

Positive decision of the Polish Maritime Ministry

19.07.2006 -

Gdansk, June 18, 2006.

 

Statement of the ss Rotterdam owner

 

 

 

Regarding today's decision of the Polish Maritime Economy Ministry, first of

all we want to say that we are happy that the Polish authorities have given

us the possibility to renovate ss Rotterdam in Poland. We are also glad that

Gdanska Shipyard and the rest of our Polish partners and suppliers have been

counting on the positive decision of the ministry.

 

Because the minister's decision states that the first condition to renovate

the ship in Poland is to remove the bags with the asbestos waste from the

board of the vessel within 7 days, we want to confirm our prior statement

that we will arrange it. Selicca, the vessel that is going to transport the

bags to Holland, is on her way.

 

At this moment we are working hard to prepare the proper procedures and

solutions to execute the operation. We are not able to tell exactly when we

could remove the bags, but we surely will do that in the time settled by the

minister.

 

We also want to assure that all other conditions will be fulfilled.

[wvdleek]

In spite of the positive decision by the Polish Maritime Ministry, the governor of the region has now overruled that decision and has ordered the ship to leave Gdansk Harbour.

He is not allowing that any of that toxic waste will be loaded off the ship and has started the procedure to have the ship towed out of Gdansk Harbour.

 

Awaiting for further news.

 

Willem

[Post Captain]

Those who have been following the saga of the SS Rotterdam and her problems in Gdansk will be very pleased to learn, as I am, of her safe arrival in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, on Saturday, 2 September 2006.

 

Very good news indeed!