Tutungeni Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

The 'Heinaste,' a fishing vessel with a valuation of N$400 million, was officially released from impound by Attorney General Martha Imalwa on November 30, 2020. This decision comes despite grave allegations against its owner, accused of profiting a staggering N$547 million through illicit dealings associated with the controversial Fishrot scandal. In a significant affidavit submitted to the Windhoek High Court, Imalwa highlighted the involvement of the international fishing company in a scheme that allegedly involved bribing five of the six individuals implicated in the Fishrot case. According to the court documents, the company, Samherji, is accused of orchestrating a series of corrupt transactions. Imalwa's affidavit details how Samherji concealed payments made to local entity Erongo Clearing, which is under the sole ownership of Tamson Hatuikulipi, by labeling them as 'consultancy fees.' This ongoing case has cast a spotlight on the alleged collusion between foreign companies and local stakeholders. As for the 'Heinaste', this vessel was one of Samherji's key assets in Namibia and has been sold for N$280 million to Tunacor Fisheries, a Namibian fishing company with political ties. The release of the vessel follows a memorandum of agreement established on September 30, 2020, involving Heinaste Investments, Tunacor Fisheries as the buyer, the Namibian government, Esja Investments as the mortgage holder, and the Tunacor group as the guarantor, confirming compliance with all payment terms. The 'Heinaste' had been initially impounded on November 2, 2010, when Namibian authorities arrested its captain for illegally fishing in a protected area. The vessel was returned on February 5 after the captain admitted guilt to three charges related to fishing in waters less than 200 meters and settled a fine of N$950,000.

Fishing enterprise Samherji has announced plans to initiate legal proceedings against Namibian authorities due to the recent seizure of the vessel 'Heinaste' at Walvis Bay. The incident occurred on February 7, during an ongoing investigation into the notorious Fishrot scandal, with the Namibian police's investigative unit acting under Article 28 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. This seizure transpired merely two days following the courts’ decision to release the vessel to its owners, alongside a hefty fine of N$950 000 imposed on its captain, Arngrímur Brynjólfsson, for illegal fishing activities within a restricted zone under the Marine Act. In the wake of the vessel’s release, Samherji revealed plans to either charter or sell the 'Heinaste' to a local operator to safeguard local employment for fishermen. The company views the recent seizure as an unlawful act that contravenes Namibian law, asserting that only individuals with a conviction can have their assets confiscated. As the vessel's rightful owner, Samherji maintains that they have yet to face any charges or convictions within Namibia. Originally scheduled to depart from Namibian waters on February 9, the 'Heinaste' seizure follows closely on the heels of the abrupt exit of two other Samherji-operated vessels, 'Geysir' and 'Saga', which left around 200 fishermen without jobs. To address concerns for the displaced workers, Samherji entered into an agreement with the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) and Namibia Food and Allied Union (NAFAU), pledging to compensate affected fishermen with an incentive matching two weeks' salary. Importantly, this amount will not impact their regular monthly salaries or any future negotiation agreements. The 'Heinaste' was previously part of a joint venture with five Namibian companies, including Sinco Fishing and Epango Fishing. This collaboration included Samherji-linked Esja Holdings, which allegedly attempted to sell the vessel to a Russian firm last year, a deal that collapsed after a court affirmed the binding shareholder agreement, declaring the sale resolution null and void. On the matter, Anti-Corruption director Paulus Noa refrained from commenting, directing inquiries towards the Namibian Police. Meanwhile, police chief inspector Kauna Shikwambi confirmed she is awaiting updates from the Erongo region before giving a detailed response to Samherji's claims.

On January 28, 2020, the South African police took control of the fishing vessel 'Heinaste' as it docked in Walvis Bay. Owned by the Icelandic fishing company Samherji, the vessel is embroiled in a scandal involving allegations of corruption, fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion, with claims that approximately 130 million Namibian dollars were paid to six individuals connected to these offenses to secure advantageous fishing quotas within Namibia. The seizure of 'Heinaste' was executed under the Prevention of Organized Crime Act (POCA), which permits the freezing of financial assets and confiscation of properties linked to suspected illegal activities. Authorities acted decisively to prevent the 'Heinaste' from evading oversight by exiting Namibian waters. In the recent days leading up to this event, two other vessels belonging to Samherji, named 'Saga' and 'Geysir', left the port, leaving behind a significant number of Namibian crew members from a total of 210 onboard. According to Samherji, the 'Saga' was en route to Spain for repairs, while the 'Geysir' has commenced fishing operations in Mauritania, reported to be legal and in compliance with the local Ministry of Fisheries. In a significant development, the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) and the Food Industry Union (Nafau) reached an agreement with Saga Seafood on February 7, stipulating that over 200 affected employees will receive compensation amounting to half of their monthly salary by February 13 at the latest. Negotiations for outstanding wages and potential compensation for these workers are expected to follow. The NUNW has urged direct dialogue with Samherji’s management, citing their accountability for substantial job losses in the local fishing sector, and has called upon the Minister of Fisheries, Albert Kawana, to engage in these discussions or to exert pressure on Samherji to initiate negotiations.