Govt faces berthing fees for forfeited vessel

Press, 19 April 1985, Page 18

Govt faces berthing fees for forfeited vessel

Berthage for the South Korean fishing vessel Tae Chang 83, which was forfeited to the Crown in December for fishing offences in New Zealand’s deep-water zone, will cost the Government about $5OO. The vessel will be sold to her former owner, the Tae Chang Fishing Company, for $820,000, it was announced this week. During her three-month stay at Lyttelton to the end of March the Tae Chang 83 incurred costs with the Lyttelton Harbour Board of $433. The Deputy Harbourmaster, Captain Jim Partington, said he had been approached by the Tae Chang Fishing Company. The vessel was expected to leave port next week and so a further 22 days berthage would be owed.

The Tae Chang 83 has been charged a lay-up rate which equals 20 per cent of the normal berthage fee. The bill will be charged to the Ministry of Fisheries. The Minister of Fisheries, Mr Moyle, said on Monday that during the tendering process it was found that there were substantial debts owing on the vessel, including a mortgage with a Panamanian company allegedly for SUS2.S million, and $190,000 owing to a Nelson based company, Nalder and Biddle. Because there was significant doubt that the Government could sell the vessel clear of these encumbrrances, the tender of the Tai Chang Company had been accepted, Mr Moyle said. A condition of acceptence was settlement of the debt

to the Nelson company. A spokesman for Nalder and Biddle said the company did not want to comment on the Government’s decision.