Tanzanian Ship Detention Saga Rolls On

Sub-Saharan Africa - Tanzania
15 Jun 2005 - Lloyd's List

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TANZANIA'S high court has again postponed a decision on the future of a Vietnamese-owned ship that has been held in Dar es Salaam for around 11 months, writes Dav id Osler.

The owner claims the ship is being detained on account of a commercial dispute to which it has no connection.

Seven of the crew of 12 have since been repatriated, although five remain on board.

A trial was due to have taken place on Friday last week.

But it was instead postponed sine die, without any reason being given for the decision, says Pham Ngoc Son, vice chief executive of Saigon Sea Shipping Company.

Can Gio (2,175 dwt, built 1984) is a Honduran flag general cargoship.

The vessel was detained by court order on arrival in Dar es Salaam on July 27 last year.

It has been held ever since pending settlement of a 1999 contract dispute between Tanzanian company Mohammed Enterprises and the Vietnamese concern Thanh Hoa.

At issue is the alleged non-delivery by Thanh Hoa of 6,000 tonnes of rice and a number of husing machines.

The ostensible legal justification appears to be that the Vietnamese state has a stake in both Thanh Hoa and Saigon Sea Shipping.

The issue has generated diplomatic tensions between the two third world nations.

In particular, the Vietnamese government has been angered by the decision to name Vietnam as a defendent in the legal action.

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