What Crew Members Say About Miriam-B

The General National Maritime Transport Company (G.N.M.T.C) has issued a critical statement regarding alarming events involving the tanker MT BADR. At 14:04 on Friday, December 21, 2018, armed individuals, some claiming to be Bulgarian border police, forcibly boarded the vessel while it was anchored in Burgas. In a shocking turn of events, the captain and crew were compelled to vacate the ship under threat of violence, with no legal justification, documentation, or court order provided for this egregious action. Following this unlawful boarding, all communication systems, including AIS, were disabled, leaving the owners and relevant authorities unable to track MT BADR's location. This act not only represents a criminal offense but is also a blatant breach of international maritime law. It directly violates a decision made by the Bulgarian Supreme Court, which had mandated the release of the vessel back in January 2018. The Port Authority of Burgas, however, has disregarded this ruling, resulting in the vessel's unlawful detention. As the legitimate owners of MT BADR, G.N.M.T.C is actively coordinating with various maritime organizations and authorities in Bulgaria and beyond, striving to put an end to these corrupt and illegal activities. The situation remains critical as the company seeks swift intervention to restore rightful ownership and safety for the crew. For further updates, stay connected with G.N.M.T.C as they navigate this urgent matter from their headquarters in Tripoli.

On December 22, 2018, the tanker 'Badr', which had been anchored near Burgas since late November, was forcibly boarded by armed militants. The attackers posed as law enforcement personnel, resorting to violence by striking the captain and threatening the crew with firearms to assert control over the vessel. The militants announced their intentions to repatriate the crew to Libya, stating that the tanker would subsequently be transferred to the Bulgargeomin Company due to unspecified commercial disputes. The owner of the 'Badr', the Libyan General National Maritime Transport Company, responded by lodging a protest and awaited an official statement from the Libyan Government. Following the incident, the crew was taken ashore, and there are speculations regarding the potential sale of the tanker.

Since November, the crude oil carrier Badr has been held at Bulgaria's Port of Burgas due to a contentious mortgage dispute, costing its owner a staggering US$20,000 each day. The Libyan state-owned General National Maritime Transport Company (GNMTC) is embroiled in a legal battle, denying the legitimacy of what it claims is a falsified US$9.23 million mortgage tied to the vessel. Despite presenting substantial evidence to support its position against the Bulgarian oil and gas contractor Bulgargeomin, the Badr remains detained with no clear resolution in sight. This ongoing saga highlights the complex legal challenges faced by maritime companies operating in international waters. For further details, visit http://www.portstrategy.com/news101/world/europe/fake-mortgage-detained-vessel-losing-millions.