| France. Land's End Captain was Designated Person Ashore says Gaspard Yachts |
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| Tuesday, 16 August 2005 | |
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Press release: BYM News has encountered conflicting reports concerning the identity of the Ship Manager of the sunken yacht Land's End. Early media reports, from the region, stated that Camper & Nicholsons was the owner's agent, but this was immediately denied by director Laurent Perignon (see Land's End holed in four places August 11); however, BYM News has learned that Camper & Nicholsons is still listed as Ship Manager on the yacht's official registration document. This document is up to date, having been modified on August 10, the day after the yacht grounded, by the addendum "Under repair". On being told this, Camper & Nicholson director, Laurent Perignon, issued an official statement ""Camper & Nicholsons International was not the company managing the yacht at the time of the events that affected M/Y Lands End in Corsica last week, but only the appointed charter broker whose clients were onboard when the accident happened. Camper & Nicholsons International also confirms that there were 12 guests onboard, and not 13 as may have been mentioned - 13 being the number of crew members." The regional Prefecture Maritime told BYM News that the owner's agent was Gaspard Yachts. This was confirmed by Perignon who said C&N had been Ship Manager, but had ceased to fulfill that role a few months ago at the request of the owner who transferred management duties to Gaspard Yachts. Gaspard Milazzo, however, categorically denied that his company was the Land's End's Ship Manager and added "We just arrange things in France and send the bills to the owner". When asked who was the Land's End's Ship Manager, Milazzo replied "there isn't one". Asked if he was the Designated Person Ashore for the Land's End, Milazzo said "No, the Captain was."; he then said he would not answer any further questions. BYM News has also learned that the Land's End was not, as stated in some media reports, registered in the British Virgin Islands, by UK company Adderstone Ltd, but is registered in the UK, by a BVI company. A spokeswoman for Mark Levy, who was the sole director of the UK company Adderstone Ltd, told BYM News that he did not own a yacht. Adderstone Ltd was deleted from the UK Registrar of Companies the day before the Land's End grounded, a coincidence that Levy's spokeswoman desribed as bizarre. BYM News has now learned that the Land's End is owned by a different Adderstone Ltd, which is registered in Tortola BVI. The yacht was first UK registered in Southampton, on April 16 1986, as A.M.B. Fantasia, by Ascidian Marine Ltd, who transferred her home port to Falmouth on March 15 1989. On January 28 1993, ownership was transferred to Adderstone Ltd and she has remained in that ownership since then. The Land's End has accomodation for 12 passengers and 10 crew and the last declaration concerning her life saving equipment (dated May 8 1998) states that she had equipment for 24. It thus appeared that the Land's End violated the MCA Large Yacht Code on two counts: the requirement to provide a bed (bunk or cot) for every person on board and in respect of life saving equipment, however, Perignon told BYM News "I had confirmation she was legal for 13 crew when a large charter party.". The story as it unfolds: Holed megayacht threatens Corsican beach August 10 Tug standing by stricken megayacht August 10 Captain in second megayacht sinking August 10 Land's End holed in four places August 11 Land's End salvage contract signed August 12 Land's End sinks completely August 12 Captain Jones charged August 12 French naval divers to assess sunken megayacht August 13 Land's End tanks to be pumped out August 15 View pictures of the Land's End |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 16 August 2005 ) |
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