Next term: 14 January 2010

Yesterday, 26 November 2009 we had the next term in de Romanian court in the case Grethe Witting. The court established a new term on the 14Th of January 2010. We cannot attend the sessions because this type of cases is dealt with just administratively for the moment and no parties are heared in the case at this moment.

In the meantime Grethe Witting is still 7 meters down under. My counterpart wants to lift the ship but for that they decided to built a metal frame. WIth the drawings of the ship they now want to built it. My advise to do it the Dutch way and use wood and poles to support the ship was not listened too and therefore future of the ship is for the moment the hands of Romanian specialists and my ex-financial partner.

It is sad to see her masts coming out of the water while the entire ship is now down for more than 7 weeks. One thing is sure, she will need a total refit and a lot of work needs to be done to make her sail again.

Grethe Witting Sank in the harbor of Mangalia

Very upset, frustrated and also angry I finally report about the tragedy around the Grethe Witting, the beautiful Lowestoft Lugger that we sailed from Rostock(Germany) to Mangalia (Romania). Many people wrote me emails after several reporters published the pictures of the sunken Grethe Witting on the net. As I am still involved in lawsuits it is not possible to provide all information at this moment. How did it come? Well that is the $1.000.000 question.

When we arrived in Romania we planned to set up traditional sailing charter on the Black Sea. For financial assistance with the purchase of the ship I interested a dutch private investor that provided a loan for 5 years. Immediately after arrival we ran already into big problems due to a difference in opinion regarding how to run a ship (..):  Me with my 5 years experience on board of charter vessels and  my training at the Enkhuyzer Zeevaart School  and my investors of whom I doubt that he ever sailed before. It was clear that there only can be one skipper on board, so it went…. My Dutch investor started a legal procedure to get possession of the ship without informing me and since we are in Romania, the court simply honors the request without hearing the counterpart, me. As a result the ship was confiscated in November 2008 and by an auction organized in June 2009 sold to the investor. I was ordered to leave the ship and the ship officially came in the hands of my investor, the new owner according to Romanian law. On the 1st of October 2009 the Grethe Witting  sank. Some suggest that it could have been because of the age, but we know better; if you do not know how to take care of a ship she will eventually can sink.

Grethe Witting, you brought us from Holland over the dangerous Biscay, along the African coast to Malta, led us through the Greek Archipel and finally delivered us safe in Romania. Now you are there, 7 meters below sea level waiting to be saved…. for sure this was not necessary.

We are now in court where I contest the decision of the Romanian court. That is the short version.

How will it be solved? That is probably a $2.000.000 question as they entire interior as well as all installations are destroyed.

To be continued….