Dear Editor,
We refer to an article appearing in the Stabroek News dated Wednesday, February 28, 2007.
In this Stabroek News wrongfully claims that the problem of payment was at the root of the so-called decision of the captain of BK vessel MT New Horizons to bring the vessel to Guyana.
BK has clearly explained that there was serious dissatisfaction of the crew and the agitated mood of the crew necessitated the decision of the captain to bring the vessel to Guyana. Members of the crew developed serious illness and although the cargo owners’ agent (as attached) had taken these crew members for medical treatment in Barranquilla, all costs of which were paid for by BK, yet they as well as others were still suffering from chicken pox like symptoms, which caused the captain to take all afflicted crew members to the doctor in Barranquilla, the cost of which was also paid for by BK.
Although crew members had received treatment and medication in Barranquilla they were still afflicted with chicken pox on the vessel’s departure from the port of Barranquilla, which caused the crew to become very agitated towards the captain and this naturally heavily influenced this decision of the captain that the ship should be brought to Guyana with the cargo intact. It is true that there are sums of money owing to BK by Lider Energy but this is a separate issue and had nothing to do with the captain’s decision for if the vessel had continued its voyage onto Rio Haina BK would have still been within its legal rights to delay discharging the cargo in Rio Haina until payments was made and did not have to come to Guyana to take any such action on outstanding payment.
Please be informed that chicken pox is a quarantinable virus and as such had the vessel stopped at the nearest port on her way to discharge port, crew concerns were that they would have been quarantined and not allowed to leave for their home. Their agitation towards the captain was brought about as a result of these concerns.
The vessel was fumigated by the Port Health and Quarantine Service of the Ministry of Health of Guyana and BK dealt with the crew problems including the incidence of illness through a private medical institution. All crew members that were gravely agitated while at sea have been replaced.
BK is ready and willing to deliver the cargo at a moment’s notice in keeping with the terms of the cargo contract.
BK however demands that the customer withdraw their report to Interpol since it is common knowledge that this was never a criminal matter justifying such a report to Interpol.
BK has no interest in unnecessarily bringing a vessel to Guyana with cargo on board since this is a very costly exercise since the cargo will eventually have to be delivered. Also another costly exercise which would have to be borne by BK is the reheating of the cargo of fuel oil.
Attached is a copy of the fumigation report from the Office of the Port Health & Quarantine Service of the Ministry of Health.
Yours faithfully,
Brian Tiwarie
Managing Director
BK Marine Inc.
Editor’s note
The news item of February 28 clearly stated that the police had reported that they were told by BK that a payment had been behind the diversion of the ship to Guyana. Stabroek News therefore did not `wrongfully’ say that the payment problem was the cause of the diversion. The news item had also related what BK had earlier said to the Stabroek News reporter that the crew had been stricken by chicken pox and were dissatisfied with the treatment they were receiving and this was what caused the vessel to return here.
