The Giorgos-B: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

The bulk carriers Vyritsa, Brasschaat, and Zarechensk are currently anchored off the coast of Tynemouth, while another vessel, Kovdor, remains idly off Malta. These ships, owned by the beleaguered Belgian company Sobelmar Antwerp NV, are facing an uncertain future, as their operations have effectively ground to a halt. Since their original crews disembarked in June 2016, replacement teams have been maintaining the vessels, which are registered under SBM-1 INC, a company affiliated with Sobelmar, both sharing the same Belgian address. Sobelmar, which once managed contracts for shipping fertilizers, grain, coal, and a significant 800,000 tonnes of apatite concentrate annually from Murmansk to destinations in Western Europe and the Baltics, has been reportedly seeking bankruptcy protection since 2015. The trio of stranded bulk carriers was originally part of Sobelmar's plan to rejuvenate an outdated fleet. The fourth vessel, Kovdor, is speculated to be experiencing a similar fate in Malta. Responsibilities for the operations of the three ships have been managed by Bernhard Schulte Ship Management from India, which provided crew support between June 10 and 22. The bulk carriers are currently anchored outside of Port of Tyne's jurisdiction, and despite their predicament, inspections by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have confirmed they remain in good condition. There are no clear timelines regarding any potential sale of these vessels, as they continue to wait for resolution of their situation. According to Sobelmar's website, the next dry dock dates for Brasschaat and Zarechensk are set for April and December 2017, respectively, while Vyritsa's last recorded dry dock date was June 2013. Despite the ships' lengthy idleness, crews on board have been well-fed and compensated in a timely manner. They remain securely anchored and have been subject to inspections by flag and class, yielding favorable assessments. For more details, including photos and videos, visit: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/stranded-ships-tynemouths-visitors-now-11973545.