ASTORIA

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Astoria expected to start last voyage next week

The 'Astoria' will probably be picked up in Rotterdam next week with the own tug of the Belgian scrapyard Galloo. That depends on when all the fittings are off the ship and when the tug is available. It is currently still active on another offshore project of the company. The towing job is also weather-dependent. The opening bid of 200,000 Euros immediately turned out to be a hit at the public sale in the Rotterdam court on June 17. There is still an outstanding invoice of almost 450,000 Euros in unpaid port fees. Galloo will also pay that, plus an additional, unspecified amount,. ‘All outstanding debts must be paid in connection with the right of retention before we can bring the ship to Ghent.’Because the ship sailed under the Portuguese flag, it has to be broken up at a European-approved recycling yard. Normally, these types of larger ships go to Turkey or Asia, countries where environmental standards are much lower, and the wages too.’ The dismantling of the 'Astoria' will be work -intensive, The 350 cabins, the public areas, such as playrooms and restaurants will have to be manually demolished. The dismantling of the rest of the ship will follow. That will certainly take a few months. Galloo expects that 12,000 tons of material, including metals, wood, glass and plastics, will be collected. The company expects to recycle ‘more than 97% of that into renewable raw materials.

sold to Breakers

Sold to Ghent Breakers

Cruise ship auctioned for minimum bid to recycler Galloo

The auction of the 'Astoria' on June 17 fetched 200,000 Euros at the Rotterdam District Court on June 17. 'In the end there was only one bidder, the recycling company Galloo. The ship was auctioned for the opening bid and minimum amount. The ship will soon be dismantled and recycled by Galloo in the port of Ghent. The ship yields more than 12,000 tons of material, more than 97 % of which will be reused, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, glass, wood, and plastics. Significantly, the recycler aims to achieve a 97% material recovery rate, transforming the liner into renewable raw materials, in alignment with European circular economy directives. The 'Astoria' has been tied up in Rotterdam's Waalhaven since 2020., after its cruise line was declared bankrupt during the corona pandemic. In 2021, the ship was auctioned by the Portuguese company Teamson, which has not paid the bills to shipping agent Oudkerk in Rotterdam for two years. The court considered it plausible that the bills together of 439,019.89 Euros must be paid by Teamson to Oudkerk. Because the Portuguese have no money, the ship was seized. The ship had been purchased by Teamson for a considerably higher amount than 200,000 Euros in 2021. The ship now has overdue maintenance and damage to the hull, because it broke loose from the berth in the port in Rotterdam during a storm. The new owner also has to settle with Rhenus Logistics, where the ship has been moored for the recent years. That company is demanding 700,000 Euros for costs incurred. During the hearing it also emerged that the Environment and Transport Inspectorate will not simply let the ship leave the port. because it considers the 'Astoria' to be waste that cannot simply be taken abroad. Before the vessel can be towed, Galloo must settle outstanding port dues, a standard procedure in marine asset liquidation.