Working Conditions Aboard the Merweborg

The Danish authorities have released the "Merweborg" which was detained on New Year's Eve. The Copenhagen Police informed in the morning of Jan 2 that the results of the blood test of the master were not yet available, but that the ship was allowed to continue its voyage in the afternoon of Jan 1. The vessel was actually still at anchor southeast of Skagen.

The Danish authorities ordered the "Merweborg", to drop anchor off Skovshoved, so the police could come on board to carry out a breathalyser tests on the captain in the New Yeers night 2017. The VTS Øresund became aware of the ship that was heading north through the sound heading from Gävle for Casablanca because it lurched and probably would have run aground if not VTS had intervened. During the talks with the ship the VTS Oresund got the impression that the Dutch ship captain was drunk. A perception the marine staff shared when they were subsequently in contact with the captain. Therefore, it was decided to send a police patrol to carry out a breathalyser on board.

Repairs of the "Merweborg" were completed on Jan 14. The ship left the Mützelfeldt Yard in Cuxhaven short past midnight and headed for the Kiel Canal resuming its voyage to Sundsvall with an ETA of Jan 18 now. The roro ferry "Caroline Russ" (IMO: 9197533) moored at berth 3 at the Seeland Quay in Lübeck on Jan 15 around 9 p.m. after having anchored off the port for order for some days following the completition of repairs at the Norder Yard in Hamburg on Jan 9.