Matthew-Tt Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

In recent years, the 'MAtthews' has undergone multiple relocations across the bustling Port of Cork, leading to increased maintenance and operational costs. These frequent movements have sparked noise disturbances, prompting complaints from local residents. Each time the vessel is repositioned, tugboats are deployed, costing approximately €30,000 per maneuver. As a result, the total expenditure incurred by the state for the upkeep of the ship has surged past €9.3 million. This significant investment includes running the engines continuously to ensure that essential equipment remains functional, ultimately aiming for a future sale. The ship's custody was mandated by ongoing criminal investigations involving its crew, with legal proceedings concluding in late 2024 when the courts ordered its release. Recently, the Revenue Office has identified a potential bidder for the vessel; however, bureaucratic processes in Ireland and the Panama ship registry are expected to delay the transaction.

In a landmark decision, eight crew members of the bulk carrier 'Matthew' have been sentenced to prison terms between 13.5 and 20 years following their involvement in Ireland's largest cocaine seizure, comprising an impressive 2.2 tonnes valued at €157 million. This ruling brings closure to a high-profile case that originated with a military operation in September 2023, effectively dismantling an intricate smuggling network linked to a Dubai-based transnational crime syndicate. The 'Matthew', which embarked on its journey from South America, made a stop in Willemstad, Curaçao before being intercepted off the Irish coast after a meticulous tracking operation that lasted several days. Despite receiving numerous warnings, the vessel ignored law enforcement and attempted to evade capture. In response, the Irish Navy’s patrol vessel, 'LÉ William Butler Yeats', fired warning shots, prompting military personnel to board the ship via helicopter. Additionally, the second vessel involved, named 'Castlemore', was intended to transfer the cocaine from the mother ship for further smuggling into Europe. However, it ran aground near the coasts of Wexford during its mission. The harshest sentence of 20 years was imposed on Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, identified as

Efforts to find a buyer for the seized bulk carrier 'Matthew' are ongoing, following the sentencing of eight individuals to a cumulative 129-year prison term on July 4, 2025. The vessel, currently docked in Passage West, has incurred more than 9 million Euro in costs for crewing and maintenance, with its engines running for nearly two years. While a preferred bidder has been identified, the process is complicated by a significant amount of regulatory compliance required by the Marine Surveying Office. This involves navigating through various embassies in Colombia, as well as coordinating with Panama, the ship’s flag state, to ensure all necessary legal frameworks are satisfied before the vessel can be officially sold.