Modern Express: Report revealed the logs onboard were illegal
On Feb 2 the "Modern Express" arrived off Cape Matxitxako. The maneuvers to find shelter in Bilbao were expected to start in the morning of Feb 3. The ship was held by the "Alice One", "Centaurus", "Ibaizabal Once" and "Maria De Maeztu" 20 nm north of Bilbao against the wind and the sea, which was seemingly calming down.
Meanwhile Regis Immongault, the Gabon Minister of Economy, expressed his shock in finding out, that logs were said to be carried on board of the ship and not 4089 tons sawn timber as stated in the cargo certificates.
As the log export is prohibited, the Ministry of Economy launched an investigation.
Sawn timber was shown in all the documents in their possession like manifests, bills of lading and customs declarations.
This meant that there was an illegal logging. The Interior Minister contacted Interpol to track the landing and find out the type of wood and its origin," he continued before warn that inflict severe sanctions on any guilty of illegal trafficking of wood.
The company that chartered the Modern Express is the European Roro Lines in Molenbeek.
The logs were loaded at Owendo port in Gabon where the ship was from Jan 11-15.
The company that commissioned the ship in Owendo confirmed having only loaded timber and construction equipment which was to be carried back to Europe after having carried out road construction.
The Gabon Ministry of Economy send a request note to Spanish authorities to provide detailed information about the cargo on board as well as all the documents traveling with the ship.
In case of evidence that cargo on board is logs, but not sawn timber, a legal case will be opened against the exporter and shipper.
On Feb 2 the "Modern Express" arrived off Cape Matxitxako. The maneuvers to find shelter in Bilbao were expected to start in the morning of Feb 3. The ship was held by the "Alice One", "Centaurus", "Ibaizabal Once" and "Maria De Maeztu" 20 nm north of Bilbao against the wind and the sea, which was seemingly calming down.
Meanwhile Regis Immongault, the Gabon Minister of Economy, expressed his shock in finding out, that logs were said to be carried on board of the ship and not 4089 tons sawn timber as stated in the cargo certificates.
As the log export is prohibited, the Ministry of Economy launched an investigation.
Sawn timber was shown in all the documents in their possession like manifests, bills of lading and customs declarations.
This meant that there was an illegal logging. The Interior Minister contacted Interpol to track the landing and find out the type of wood and its origin," he continued before warn that inflict severe sanctions on any guilty of illegal trafficking of wood.
The company that chartered the Modern Express is the European Roro Lines in Molenbeek.
The logs were loaded at Owendo port in Gabon where the ship was from Jan 11-15.
The company that commissioned the ship in Owendo confirmed having only loaded timber and construction equipment which was to be carried back to Europe after having carried out road construction.
The Gabon Ministry of Economy send a request note to Spanish authorities to provide detailed information about the cargo on board as well as all the documents traveling with the ship.
In case of evidence that cargo on board is logs, but not sawn timber, a legal case will be opened against the exporter and shipper.