Acting Director of the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry and Receiver of Wrecks, Captain Raman Bala has said that there are over 20 derelict vessels and yachts that will be sold by auction under Section 33B (1) (c) of the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act 2018.

Captain Raman Bala said, “Bidding starts on Monday, June 3 and the last date to send bids is June 10. We are encouraging interested bidders to review the conditions of sale prior to purchasing any of the vessels/yachts as vessels would be sold ‘as is’ and without warranty.”

Persons interested in purchasing any of the vessels may inspect them at the various locations. Sealed bids should be addressed and delivered to The Ministry of Finance, Procurement Unit, Qwomar Trading #2, Second Floor, Blackburn Road, Tortola, VG1110, Virgin Islands (British) in a sealed envelope marked, “Auction of Derelict Vessels” no later than noon on Monday, June 10.

Bids must be signed and include the bidders’ full name, address and valid telephone number. The successful bidder, upon notification, would have 48 hours to make a payment by banker’s cheque for the bid amount and the bond amount.

The successful bidder is required to remove the vessel by June 30 from its present location and have it transported to a privately owned dock, a marina where permission has been given or a ship yard.

In the event the vessel is not removed by the purchaser by the date specified, the vessel will return to the possession of the Receiver of Wrecks, who may dispose of it in such a manner as is considered necessary. The purchaser however, forfeits the ownership and rights of the vessel together with the bond amount.

The list of vessels and copies of the Conditions of Sale with regard to the auction can be obtained from the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.  

Both documents can also be found on the Government’s website at http://bvi.gov.vg/content/visr-auction-list and http://bvi.gov.vg/content/visr-conditions-sale respectively.

For more information contact the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry at 1 (284) 468-9646.