Russian shadow fleet vessel seized in Odesa region put up for sale again at a discount

The National Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) has once again put up for sale the seized USKO MFU, which is currently docked in the port of Reni, Odesa region.

The relevant announcement was published in the Prozorro.Sale system.

The auction is scheduled to take place on November 4 with a starting price of UAH 4 million 958.9 thousand. The vessel has wear and dents on the port and starboard sides of the hull; metal wear on the deck; oil leaks in the hydraulic wheels of the deck hatch covers; oil leaks in the bow and stern hydraulic units; and tears in the deck ventilation system; ballast ventilation system rupture; wear of wheels and cover rails; fore and aft hydraulic pumps damaged; mechanisms for opening the hold lid with visual damage; visual damage to the deck, stairs, accommodation unit; no rescue equipment; the accommodation unit, dining rooms and other interior spaces are damaged; navigation equipment is damaged, some elements are missing; the engine room is in poor condition, the main engine control room is damaged and needs to be restored; the main engine needs major repairs and maintenance due to prolonged downtime without meeting the conditions for mothballing the vessel; steering engines need maintenance; the emergency fire pump is damaged; ballast pumps are corroded; the air compressor is corroded.

Given that the vessel has been in a standstill for a long time, its technical condition has deteriorated, and experts have reason to believe that the mechanisms have been defrosted due to the onset of negative temperatures.

The Cameroon-flagged USKO MFU was impounded in October 2024. The detention took place in July 2024 in the Odesa region, when the Maritime Security units detected violations of navigation in the waters under temporary occupation. The captain of the ship was accused of violating the procedure for entering the occupied territories with the aim of harming the state interests. The attempted auction.

The previous auction, which was scheduled for November 4, did not take place due to the lack of bidders. The starting price was UAH 4 million 958.9 thousand.

Кирило Бойко