Duzgit-Integrity

On June 17, 2015 at 5.06 p.m. the CROSS Gris-Nez was contacted by the "Duzgit Integrity Duzgit" after a crew member of 51 years had suffered a cardio-respiratory arrest. The CROSS Gris-Nez immediately mobilized a Belgian Seaking helicopter of the base in Koksijde with a medical team on board, and informed the maritime medical coordination of Le Havre. After its arrival on site at 5:30 p.m., the medical team took over the patient, who was still not breathing despite resuscitation attempts. The man was taken to the Calais hospital where he was delivered shortly before 6 p.m. The Calais hospital informed the Gris-Nez CROSS later in the evening of the death of the sailor. The "Duzgit Integrity" was at anchor in a waiting area of the Dyck approximately six nautical miles off the coast of Calais at that time.

The West African republic of São Tomé e Príncipe has wrongfully confiscated two ships chartered by the Swedish oil company Stena Oil (Marida Melissa and Duzgit Integrity) , including the cargo. The captains have been severely sentenced to three years of imprisonment and charged with "smuggling" in a show trial. A fine of 5 million EUR has been imposed, and the vessels and cargo have been confiscated by the state of São Tomé. It is Stena Oil's clear and firm position that the allegations are entirely unfounded. Neither the ship owners nor Stena Oil have been given the opportunity by any court to clear the false allegations against them. The São Tomé court has refused to consider evidence that would clearly prove the innocence of all the accused parties, including the captains who have now been imprisoned. After nearly four months, the situation remains unresolved and has thus far cost Stena Oil and the owners of the ships more than 3 million USD. For nearly four months, the ships and their cargo have been wrongfully detained by the São Tomé authorities. The captains have been imprisoned for a crime they did not commit. They are the victims of an unscrupulous government trying to enrich themselves by confiscating assets from foreign businesses. More at http://world.einnews.com/pr_news/157859770/seafarers-imprisoned-after-show-trial-in-s-o-tom-ships-and-cargo-wrongfully-confiscated

Stena Oil refused to comment on what was happening with the tankers "Duzgit Integrity" and "Marida Melissa" which were seized in Sao Tome and whose captains have been sentenced to prison. Stena Oil continued to negotiate and the situation was described as sensitive. The vessels are chartered by the Swedish Stena Oil to perform service assignments for ships and oil rigs operating off the West African coast. The ships had performed STS operations near Sao Tomé but because of the weather, this took place inside the country's territorial waters with permission of the Coastguard. The two Stena vessels were then forced into port, and the two captains were prosecuted and sentenced in late March 2013 for unauthorized running into the country's territorial waters and for smuggling. The captains, one Turkish and the other Ukrainian, were sentenced to three years in prison, the two ships were confiscated in Sao Tome. The accusation was illegal entry of the country's territorial waters and smuggling. The operators were condemned to pay five million Euro. The Swedish Foreign Ministry was to take up the issue with the authorities in Sao Tome.