The case of the stinking dutchman

M/V Beriks - The stinking dutchman

I’m seeing reports about a freighter adrift in the Black Sea dubbed “The stinking dutchman”.  Needless to say, it caught my interest.  Apparently the Ukrainian refer vessel Beriks, loaded Brazilian and Chinese meat and poultry in December, and then suffered a casualty to its refer system, resulting in over 200 tones of rotting meat that is apparently emitting quite an odor.  The ship has been reportedly drifting in the Black Sea for several months now.  The odor is so bad, that Ukrainian authorities are refusing to let the vessel approach within 20 kilometers of the shore and the crew is becoming more and more desperate to get off the ship.  The twelve merchant seamen on board are forced to wear breathing apparatus to enter the ship’s hold due to the stench and are reported to be running out of food and water.

They have tried several times to leave the ship on small boats, but the port authorities have sent them back.

The Beriks has been refused entry to the Ukrainian ports of Feodosiya, Yevpatoriya and Nikolayev. The ship has reached the Kerch Strait, but is not permitted any closer to land.

Ukraine’s sanitary services have also refused to give permission for the ship’s stinking cargo to be unloaded, and the vessel lacks specialist equipment which would allow it to be dumped in neutral waters.

It is unfortunate that the flag state of Ukraine does not step up and take responsibility for this case.  It is not entirely clear how the term dutchman came into play, as all indications show that the vessel is Ukrainian flagged and Ukrainian operated through Interfish-Bioteh LTD or Interfish-Biotech LTD.  These type of cases are unacceptable, and I suggest Ukrainian flag state officials step up to the plate and deal with getting these mariners off this vessel, and the rotting cargo disposed of.

news article

Ukraine Registry of Ships

Interfish-Biotech LTD contact details

Vessel particulars:

Name: Beriks

Flag:  Ukraine

IMO:  8897148

MMSI:  272537000

Callsign:  UZEM