Author Topic: Lyubov Orlova departure delayed  (Read 8995 times)

Offline Barry Dewling

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Lyubov Orlova departure delayed
« on: February 21, 2012, 01:04:27 AM »

Te former Russian cruise ship Lyubov Orlova sits tied to a pier in St. John's harbour, tilted ominously to one side. - Photo by Gary Hebbard/The Telegram
Published on February 18, 2012

Published on February 18, 2012
Andrew Robinson   
The Telegam

The departure of the MV Lyubov Orlova may not happen before the end of the month, according to the St. John's Port Authority.

It could take six weeks for the vessel to be ready to leave St. John's harbour, according to port authority president and CEO Sean Hanrahan.

"But you don't know what you're going to find, either," he added.

The ship's departure is dependent on how well the engine and electrical system have held up over the last 17 months. Hanrahan said it is possible the ship could be towed from the harbour.

The sale of the vessel to Neptune International Shipping Inc., based in the British Virgin Islands and owned by Hussein Humayuni, was finalized last Friday, according to Hanrahan.

The ship has been docked in St. John's since Sept. 25, 2010 after it was flagged in the South Pacific Cook Islands. Its 51-member crew had not been paid in months, and creditors were owed more than $750,000 as of last November.

Approval for the vessel's $250,000 sale was made last month at a federal court in Montreal. One stipulation was that the Lyubov Orlova would leave the harbour before the end of February, but Hanrahan said the federal court's sheriff for the sale has the discretion to allow the owner to keep the vessel in St. John's beyond the end of this month if repairs are necessary.

Hanrahan confirmed the new owner is incurring berthing fees.

The new owner has a crew in place to help make the ship sea-worthy again, said Hanrahan.

Meanwhile, people walking past the ship might notice it's tilting towards the dock. Hanrahan said the Lyubov Orlova has been listing at an angle of between four and five degrees ever since the ship began its prolonged stay in St. John's.

When the port authority was looking after vessel maintenance, Hanrahan said, a professional marine engineer took care of the issue. He said if listing was considered a problem at any point, the bilge water leaking into the vessel was pumped out of the ship.

Hanrahan understands from speaking with staff that Humayuni has retained the services of the same marine consultant used by the port authority to monitor the vessel.

Hanrahan said the port authority's marine operations staff briefed Neptune International on maintenance issues as recently as Tuesday.

Offline Barry Dewling

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Re: Lyubov Orlova departure delayed
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2012, 10:58:47 AM »
Russian ship to leave St. John's for the scrap heap
CBC News

A Russian ship that's been tied up in St. John's for more than a year and a half will be in Newfoundland for a little while longer as its new owners prepare it for its last trip.

The Lyubov Orlova was finally been sold last month but the vessel, which has operated as a cruise ship and a research vessel in both the Arctic and the Antarctic, will not be carrying passengers again.

The 35-year-old ship is destined for the Dominican Republic where it will be broken up and sold as scrap.

Its new owner Hussein Humayuni

Offline Stefan Niederer

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Re: Lyubov Orlova departure delayed
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2012, 08:13:04 PM »
Very good informations. Interesting. Thanks, Barry.
I hope we will get a "last" shot of her outbound St. John's

Offline dwrozeboom

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Re: Lyubov Orlova departure delayed
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2012, 04:32:31 AM »
I heard from one of the crew members that the ship is rat infested and needs to be fumigated.  No one can stay on board.  Now the owner doesn't want to pay the two crew members at the end of their 30 day contracts so they are in some trouble. 

Offline davidships

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Re: Lyubov Orlova departure delayed
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2012, 11:00:36 AM »
Hussein Humayuni obtained a license 20/12/2011 from the Dominican Republic government to import and export metals, in the business name of "Khidom".

Offline Barry Dewling

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Re: Lyubov Orlova departure delayed
« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2012, 11:30:06 PM »
Firefighters responding to smoke aboard the Lyubov Orlova.

 http://pic.twitter.com/YPeq4R7m

 

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