The Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) in collaboration with the Liberian National Police CID has retrieved M/V Hammonia Palatium.
The M/V Hammonia Palatium, a rescuer boat motor that went missing in December 2021, is a Liberian flagged container ship with IMO Registered Identification Number 9336165 which was returned to its legitimate owner on Sunday, July 3, 2022,
Two burglars were arrested and the machine was recovered by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Liberia National Police, following an investigation into claims that robbers entered the vessel, while it was berthed, and made away with a rescuer boat machine, along with seven cans of 18.5 liters of Final Coat X (FCX) Exterior Paint.
While handing over the rescued machine on July 3, 2022 to Captain Azamat Ayhan, the Director of Maritime Security, Simeon T. Cheah said the Liberia Maritime Authority was alerted of the incident in an email sent by the vessel’s agent on December 25, 2021.
He disclosed further that the police used details found on a phone that the thieves had left on the vessel.
The Director stressed that the recovery operation was successful largely due to the effectiveness of the Police and the fine working relationship among the Port Security, LiMA Security, and the National Police.
Mr. Cheah praised and thanked the three security teams and emphasized the seriousness that Commissioner Lenn Eugene Nagbe attaches to the fight against thievery and other criminal activities within the maritime sector.
He pointed out that the Liberia Maritime Authority will not hesitate to go to any length to stamp out vices that would impugn the sacredness of the country’s uncompromising stance on safety security and thievery positions that have won the Liberia Shipping Registry admiration globally.
While expressing thanks and appreciation to all concerned Maritime stakeholders for a job well done, the Maritime Security boss disclosed that the Investigation continues and that those found guilty will face the full weight of the Law.
“Filching of all types must stop and stopped now!” Director Cheah said. Receiving the retrieved motor, Captain Ayhan said he was not the Captain on board the vessel at the time the incident occurred but was glad to receive the motor (a “Tohatsu”) from the Liberian authorities represented by the Liberia Maritime Authority Director of Security, ISPS Officer, and the boarding agent. He wondered how the Liberian Authorities succeeded in rescuing the motor.
Further investigation into circumstances that led to the missing motor is continuing to bring to book the alleged perpetrators and their potential accomplices to send out a clear message to others who would dare to tread a similar path.
Amongst others who attended the turnover ceremony were Mr. Gola Traub, Director of Corporate Relations, LiMA; Michael Roberts, Digital and Social Media Officer, LiMA; Mr. Isaac Dayan, Vessel Movement Officer; Mr. Frederick W. Dagbe, Vessel Agent; Fatu M. Shaw, Associate Director for Intelligence and Investigation, LiMA; and Agent Morris P. Smith, Investigator, LiMA.
