Ceyo

The 'Ceyo' remained stationary near Brest on Feb 18. Just before the departure from Amsterdam on Jan 23, it was discovered that water was flowing into the chain locker more than three weeks ago, after being moored for two months due to numerous defects. The vessel, sailing under the Tanzanian flag, arrived empty in the port of Amsterdam on Nov 23 to pick up a cargo of rubber granulate. On Nov 24, it was detained after the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) found 38 deficiencies. During the two months the ship was in Amsterdam, two ILT inspectors spent a total of five days on board. Only at the fifth re-inspection did the ship was permitted to sail. Two deficiencies had not yet been resolved, but the ILT accepted that these would be handled under a class condition: the ship could depart provided the repairs were carried out in the next port. While the ship was in port, both the captain and the substitute captain left because they deemed the ship unsafe. The piloted captain – the third in two months – had only been on board for a day, the compass was off by 8 degrees, and no one knew how the radar worked. On the day of the planned departure, after the ship had already been approved, inspectors re-boarded: they had received a photo of water flowing from a ballast tank into the chain locker. The leak was temporarily repaired, after which a class condition was also accepted on this point, partly because the 'Ceyo' was going straight to the shipyard in Turkey for further maintenance. The pilot Adema saw "the fear in the crew's eyes as they departed. I really feel for the poor devils on board. With over 6,000 pilot trips, I've seen many crews, but this didn't feel right." After weeks at anchor due to bad weather, the ship attempted to cross the Bay of Biscay, but had to be escprted by the 'VB Abeille Bretagne' to the Bay of Douarnenez on the night of Feb 13. It has been anchored there since the early morning of Feb 15. The ILT emphasised that the inspections under the Port State Control agreements served as a safety net, with random checks on the ship. These inspections were not intended for a survey. Even when a leak in the chain locker was discovered after the successful re-inspection, the ILT stated that proceeding with a full ship inspection was not an option, even though there might have been more hidden defects. The primary responsibility for the ship is the owner, and then the flag state,. In 2025,the ship was detained not only in the Netherlands, but also in Greece and Italy, under the Turkish shipping company Efemay Shipping. Reports showed that the problem with the leaky chain locker was known even before its departure from Istanbul. Furthermore, the ITF trade union in several ports received reports of unpaid wages, threats, and poor working conditions. The flag state of Tanzania also appeared to have other priorities. If the flag state allowed the ship to go to a shipyard to address the deficiencies, Port State Control cannot detain the ship. Since the 'Ceyo' has been moored off the French coast, there have been concerned about the crew's well-being. There was insufficient food and drink on board, wages were said to be too low and overdue, and crew members were sometimes forced to work more than 20 hours a day. According to Efe Aytekin, the 'Ceyo's owner, everything ITF has heard is based on lies and there are no problems. He claimed the leaking chain locker problem was unknown and only discovered on the day of departure from Amsterdam. After the weather improved, the ship departed on Feb 20, destined to istanbul with an ETA as of March 10. Report with photos: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2026/02/18/waarom-probleemschip-ceyo-uit-amsterdam-mocht-vertrekken/

An emergency tug with firefighting equipment was sent from France on the night of Feb 13 to the 'Ceyo' in the English Channel. The ship had been moored in the port of Amsterdam for a long time due to technical problems, but was finally allowed to leave port on Jan 23. The pilot had already warned that it was unsafe. The ship was not only suffering from numerous defects but was also suspected of engaging in dubious practices with countries like North Korea, and the crew was currently being underpaid. After a fifth re-inspection, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) finally allowed the vessel to depart enroute to Istanbul. Just before the vessel left the port of Amsterdam, the entire crew was replaced. A Dutch pilot who supervised the departure expressed his concerns. He had observed that the crew was unsure about the vessel's condition and had little nautical knowledge and skills. For example, they did not know how the radar worked. Now the emergency tug 'VB Abeille Bretagne' (IMO: 9308687) was called out to the 'Ceyo' which appeared to has run into problems again. The ship came too close to the coast and the local port authority has concerns about it. Therefore, it was now being escorted. The Norwegian offshore vessel 'Olympic Delta' (IMO: 9745768), which can accommodate helicopters in emergencies, also sailed from the port of Cherbourg to the Ceyo's position. On Feb 15 at 7 a.m. the 'Ceyo' was anchored near St. Hernot in pos. 48° 12' N 004° 30' W, where it remained moored as of Feb 17.

After two months, the 'Ceyo' has finally left the port of Amsterdam on Jan 23. The ship had been detained after its arrival on Nov 24, 2025, after the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) had discovered numerous defienceis. The owner seemed unable to resolve the problems, but late last week, after the 5th re-inspection, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) concluded that the ship could now safely head to sea. Two of the 38 defiencies originally identified have not been resolved, but these could wait until the ship has arriveds at its next port. In the recent months, there have been significant concerns about the ship's crew. The ITF union had to mediate several times to ensure that crew members received their full salaries. Both the captain and two engineers left the ship because they considered it too unsafe. These concerns have not disappeared. A former crew member said he found it unbelievable that the ship was allowed to depart. After the successful re-inspection, it turned out that water was flowing from the ballast tanks into the space where the anchor chain was stored. Inspectors from the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) boarded the ship again, but despite the defective ballast compartments, the ship was still given permission to depart. . It was unclear where and when the necessary repairs will be carried out.The Turkish shipping company Efemay Shipping brought in a new crew from Georgia last week. Regarding crew members who have been replaced but were still waiting for their pay. the owner has agreed to pay their salaries this week. The 'Ceyo' has a turbulent history. It once sailed for North Korea, nearly sank off the coast of Japan, and in 2023, 4,500 kilos of cocaine were found on board. In 2025,, the ship was also detained in Italy and Greece. Because this was the 3rd detention within a year, the ship has been prohibited from entering ports in countries affiliated with the Paris MoU for the next three months. The owner has previously stated that the ship will never return to the Netherlands. The ship was headed for Istanbul with an ETA as of Feb 7.

The 'Ceyo' has been moored in Amsterdam's Coenhaven for 50 days. The ship was detained by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (IHVT) on Nov 13, 2025, due to numerous deficiencies, after it had arrived in Amsterdam to pick up a load of rubber granulate, enroute from Saint-Malo. The next day, detained the ship due to serious deficiencies. A total of 34 problems were found, including those related to the technical condition, safety, and documentation. Since then, it has already been rejected twice during re-inspections in recent weeks. The 'Ceyo' has a remarkable history. The ship once sailed for North Korea and has since changed names and flags ten times. In 2017, after the captain deliberately beached the ship on the Japanese coast and the vessel was partially submerged, it was discovered to be sailing under a false Fijian flag. In 2023, the Spanish Coastguard found 4,500 kilos of cocaine on board during a spectacular operation at sea. The current owner, Efemay Shipping from Turkey, purchased the ship after it was abandoned in a Spanish port. Since then, it has primarily sailed in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. There is fresh water and sufficient food on board, and the crew can and may disembark, but Gijs Mol of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has had to assist the crew several times. The first time was in December, when the owner called the police to have the engineer removed. According to the owner, the engineer threatened to set the ship on fire. The engineer says the accusation was false, intended to force him off the ship because he demanded his salary. Furthermore, Mol had to help ensure the crew received their full wages. A seafarer would have received $600 a month, well below ILO wages, while it should have been $879. The crew hardly dare complain and are terrified of reprisals. Last week, the captain left, partly because he considered the ship unsafe. The rest of the crew wants to go home too, but agreed to stay until the re-inspection is successful. After that, the owner planned to replace the entire crew. There was currently no re-inspection scheduled for the 'Ceyo'. Report with photos: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2026/01/14/probleemschip-ceyo-al-vijftig-dagen-aan-de-ketting-ik-blijf-maar-geld-uitgeven/

A fight may have broken out aboard the 'Ceyo' on Dec 13, and the police boarded the vessel in the Coenhaven of the port of Amsterdam. The vessel was notorious for shady practices and was detained by inspectors of the port authority on Nov 24. They found serious deficiencies in the ship's technical condition, safety, documentation, or other requirements. As a result, the ship was not permitted to sail until these deficiencies have been resolved and the re-inspection has been successfully completed. The crew of the 'Ceyo' has reportedly not been paid for two weeks. Harbour chaplain Leon Rasser was aware of the situation and has already been on board twice, delivering Christmas packages. Only two crew members were speaking English. The rest would prefer to have no contact with the outside world. He was only allowed to stand on the gangway.The tensions wre running so high that the crew was literally grabbing each other by the throat. They resolved it amicably. The police made no arrests and did not have to provide medical assistance. The vessel regularly changes flags and was also frequently renamed. In 2020, the ship sailed as 'East Calm' under the Belizean flag, two years later as 'Blume' under the Togolese flag, in 2023 as 'Lilibet' under the Cameroonian flag, and since May 2025, the 'Ceyo' has been flagged to Tanzania. In its 20-year history, the ship has sailed under at least 13 different flag states. The ship officially belongs to the Turkish shipping company BM Sea Lines. The company was established this year, and the 'Ceyo' is the only ship in their fleet. In January 2023, the Spanish police found a shipment of three tons of cocaine aboard the ship, which was impounded in the port of Tenerife. The ship had also previously been placed on a UN blacklist due to suspicions of collaboration with North Korea. Since 2022, the ship has regularly visited Russian ports on the Black Sea, including Novorossiysk. It doesn't follow fixed routes, but rather sails seemingly at random, often staying in certain ports for extended periods and seemingly without reason. According to the International Transport Federation, the chief engineer had previously wanted to disembark because he was suspicious of the ship's condition. He has since departed. The ship hase been moored in various ports three times in 2025 due to defects. Report with photos: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2025/12/15/bemanning-slaags-op-berucht-schip-ceyo-bulker-ligt-aan-ketting-in-amsterdam/