MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Pardelhas” to be auctioned April 15.

Two fishing vessels belonging to the Portuguese company Pardelhas Fishing Company which have been abandoned for years in Punta Arenas will be auctioned next April 19, following the ruling of a local court.

"Pardelhas" and "Almourol" will have a starting auction price of approximately 146,000 and 212,000 US dollars, following a Punta Arenas court decision recognizing that the Portuguese company has pending debts with the local maritime agent, Agencia Maritima Ultramar Limitada equivalent to 163,000 US dollars. The maritime agent and the Portuguese company signed a service agreement September 2000.

Pardelhas also has pending debts with the crew, mostly Peruvians, who refused to abandon the vessels until they were paid. Finally they gave up in July 2004 after surviving several years in precarious almost inhuman conditions aboard the abandoned vessels.

According to Punta Arenas press, both vessels arrived in the year 2000, after having finished fishing in Falklands waters and went into the local Navy yard for repairs and maintenance.

Since the fishing company never paid the bill, a local court ordered the vessel to remain docked in Punta Arenas port. They were later ordered to Isabel Island in the bay, where they have remained since, one of the vessels is grounded and half sunk.

According to court information, Almourolwith 1,596 tons displacement figures belonging to the Portuguese company Trz-Peixe and Pardelhas, 1,538 tons, to Murtuosa Fishing.