Owners of controversial armoury ship seek its release
View(s):Sri Lanka Shipping Co, owners of the vessel Mahanuwara which has been hired by controversial security firm Avant Garde to store an armoury on board, on Thursday filed a motion in the Galle Magistrate’s Court seeking the release of the ship.
The company said that the ship is 40 years old and in a deteriorating state and offered to transfer the armoury to another ship, in better condition.
Avant Garde Maritime Services Ltd was using the vessel to store arms and ammunition for the use of foreign vessels to protect against pirates under approval by the Ministry of Defence. Following the change of government, an order was issued by the Galle Magistrate to detain the vessel and its contents on board.
According to the company Managing Director, the Certificate of Class issued to the vessel expires on March 31 and with that the insurance cover of the vessel lapses. He said the condition of the 40 year-old vessel is in a deteriorating state and needs to be moved out of the Galle harbour. The vessel has been hired by Avant Garde since September 2012. The Court asked the CID to seek the Attorney General’s advise on the request by the ship owners.