Working Conditions Aboard the Champion-Pula

On October 6, 2020, the oil tanker 'Champion Pula' docked in Las Palmas, revealing a shocking discovery: four Nigerian men had been concealed in a compartment near the ship's rudder for an astonishing ten days at sea. After departing from Lagos, where it had unloaded its cargo, the vessel was en route to Herøya in Porsgrunn to pick up a load of liquid manure. The ship made a scheduled bunker and supply stop in Las Palmas 10.5 days after its departure. This remarkable find was made by a pilot boat belonging to the Spanish authorities, who noted that the stowaways were in a precarious position, mere feet away from the sea and propeller, raising significant safety concerns as the compartment could have flooded. Spanish authorities promptly brought the stowaways ashore, but they were not held in custody as the next steps for the men needed to be determined. Following a series of discussions, the shipping company received help from Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Shipowners' Association. During this time, the stowaways were provided with medical care and meals, and they were accommodated in ship cabins to ensure their safety. Security personnel were also deployed on board to protect the crew. Ultimately, the four men were transferred to Norwegian authorities upon their arrival at Herøya in Porsgrunn on the morning of October 17. For further details and photographs of the incident, refer to the Norwegian report available online.

A transaction has been finalized, with Borealis KS's clients acquiring a vessel for a considerable sum of $21 million. The deal is structured on a five-year bareboat charter basis, though the specific terms of the charter rate have not been disclosed. This sale marks a significant movement in the maritime market, reflecting ongoing investment interests in the shipping industry.