Ship seized in Odesa region purchased by company of businesswoman from Zakarpattia region

The National Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) has sold the seized USKO MFU, which is currently docked in the port of Reni, Odesa region, for UAH 2 million 479.4 thousand.

This was reported in the Prozorro.Sale system.

The auction took place on December 8, and the winner offered the starting price of the lot. The buyer was Universal LTD, a limited liability company. According to the YouControl service, the LLC was registered in Odesa in 2018, and the owner is currently a resident of Zakarpattia region, Halyna Bednarska.

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 ruptures 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