The 90-foot Korean fishing vessel that has been embroiled in controversy since its arrival in Grand Bahama in November of 2003 has been listed for sale in the classified section of a daily newspaper in New Providence.
The sale of the Otori, which was to serve as the “mother ship” for 15 smaller Korean fishing vessels that were brought into the country around the same time, is being handled by the New Providence-based law firm of Rolle and Rolle.
Details of the sale require interested buyers to call in their bids to 325-7777 or fax it to 328-2733.
The Freeport News contacted the offices of Rolle and Rolle and was advised that although the tenders were being handled by that company, they should be addressed to the Deputy Provost Marshall of the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the Otori remains docked in Grand Bahama at the Grand Bahama Shipyard.
In October 2003 the 15 smaller fishing vessels were cleared through Freeport and ended up in Morgan’s Bluff, Andros, triggering some concern among local fishermen on that island. When the ‘Mother Ship’ arrived in Grand Bahama and docked at the Lucayan Harbour, it was reported that she would serve as processing and storage vessel for fish caught by the smaller vessels.
The arrival of the 16 Korean boats was shrouded in mystery and they were at the centre of a hailstorm of controversy in December of 2003 when it was reported that Member of Parliament for Holy Cross Sidney Stubbs, the then chairman of The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC), was involved in some way with their arrival in The Bahamas.
At the time, it was reported that the vessels were “100 percent owned” by a Bahamian company, Netsiwill Holdings, headed by president and chief executive officer Earlin Williams, then a consultant with BAIC.
Neneka Bahamas Ltd, a company owned and operated by Tae Jing Suk, a Korean-born American, and Netsiwill Holdings reportedly had made arrangements for a $20 million investment in North Andros.
It was later disclosed by former BAIC chairman Stubbs that fishermen in North Andros were granted a $2.5 million mortgage for 15 boats from Neneka Bahamas Ltd to enhance the fishing industry.
According to reports, a formal application was made to the Department of Fisheries for a permit to have the boats imported duty free on October 28, 2003.
Although a licence was issued October 30, when the vessels arrived in The Bahamas, Customs was instructed to revoke the registration permit issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and to impound the vessels.
In November 2003, a statement issued by Bahamas Customs said: “In response to press inquiries, it is released for public information that the 15 fishing boats at Morgan’s Bluff, Andros, and the fish processing ship Otori at Freeport, Grand Bahama, vessels purported to be of Korean origin, are all in the possession of The Bahamas Department of Customs.
“The vessels may not be moved or interfered with in any way without the express permission of the Department. All 16 vessels are expected to leave Bahamian waters in the due course of the law after the completion of logistical arrangements for their removal from the jurisdiction of The Bahamas.”
The 15 smaller vessels subsequently were taken out of The Bahamas, presumably by the rightful owners, but the Otori has been docked at the harbour since then.
Officials at GB Shipyard were tight-lipped about the status of the Otori; however, one source said they were only the tenants for the vessel.
“The only thing I can say is that the Government seized the boat and we are only the tenants,” the source said.
By BARBARA WALKIN, Senior Freeport News Reporter
