Since 2017, two Ghanaians and 11 Indian nationals have been detained, along with the DLB Sea Horizon vessel at the Sekondi Naval Base in Ghana due to a payment dispute. Reports say that WAG SPV, the American owner of the Panamanian vessel, had to pay the port charges accrued over the period, an amount in the region of $1.5 million.
However, the company supported that the vessel was unlawfully detained, and refused to pay the money, which has resulted to the overall cost being about $500,000.
To this result, the vessel has been docked at the port, while also the port authorities are still refusing to allow supplies to pass in the vessel, including fuel.
In light of the above, the Western Naval Command in Sekondi issued a letter to WAG SPV highlighting that legal action will follow in the possibility that the American company won’t pay its payments within the timeframe of 30 days.
Yet, Nigerian businessman and Fortune Global Shipping & Logistics president and CEO, whose payment dispute with a company that occasionally leases the vessel resulted in a High Court ordering its detention, has since returned to his home country. Thus, the American company supported that the laws are for the businessman to follow and settle all charges, as the company believes that he caused the arrest of the vessel.
Moreover, the American company has accused the Nigerian businessman and his lawyers of presenting false information to the court during the case, creating grounds for the removal of the arrest order. In the meantime, the American company presented a certificate of ownership from the Panamanian Maritime Authority asking to have the ruling quashed; Yet, the judge decided that the case is to be determined at a full trial.
So, the company had a hearing on February 2019. However, according to sources, the case between WAG SPV I and Fortune Global is ongoing this month at a court in New York.
Despite the court hearings and the economic disputes between the two companies, the stranded seafarers have been facing challenges due to lack of food and fuel.
