The rumor has been circulating in the port world since the spring, but it is only now that DOI.dk can reveal a legal aftermath between two port users in the Port of Frederikshavn. In the fall of 2023, the oil tanker Zafiro Producer tore free from the quay during a violent autumn storm while it was being scrapped at Modern American Recycling Services, Europe A/S (M.A.R.S).
The Zafiro Producer caused serious damage to other vessels in the port, the worst affected being Noble Drilling's drilling rig Noble Resilient, which had its helicopter deck completely torn off. This is something that Nordjyske has previously written about.
The aftermath of the bill for the repairs of Noble Resilient culminated on October 24 of this month, when the Maritime and Commercial Court received this summons: "Noble Drilling et al. v. Modern American Recycling Services, Europe A/S et al." In addition to the two parties, a number of insurance companies are involved in the case about the final outcome after the autumn storm.
CEO confirms the summons
When DOI.dk contacted M.A.R.S.' CEO Kim Thygesen in the spring, he could deny that the company had received a summons. But that's not the case anymore.
- Yes, a summons has been issued, says Kim Thygesen.
DOI.dk has learned from sources close to the matter that the repairs should amount to around 100 million. DKK. The director can neither confirm nor deny this.
We don't have the overview yet, so we can't say where we are, says Kim Thygesen, who at the same time rejects the persistent and massive rumors that a possible bill of 100 million. DKK would mean a closure or bankruptcy of M.A.R.S. in Frederikshavn:
- The summons is not going to raze us to the ground, so it has no significance.
M.A.R.S. had a turnover of around 360 million in 2023. DKK, and Kim Thygesen's office also boasts a growth award for doubling the turnover. Perhaps that is why he is taking the future very calmly.
- It was actually expected that there would be an aftermath, and we have had a year to prepare for it. It is a long process, and it will take years, says Kim Thygesen and promises one thing about broken ships:
- We have made sure that it will not happen again.
Municipal Director: Case between companies
Since Zafiro Producer broke free and drifted into Noble Resilient, the Port of Frederikshavn has gone from being a municipal self-governing port to being a municipal port with a debt of approximately DKK 1.7 billion.
Therefore, it could also have serious consequences for the entire Municipality of Frederikshavn if M.A.R.S. were to end up letting the company go bankrupt. The port could simply lose an important source of income during a difficult time.
However, the municipal director does not see it that way.
- It is a matter between two companies at the port, so I have no comment on that, says Frederikshavn's municipal director Thomas Eriksen to DOI.dk.
DOI.dk has tried in vain to obtain a comment from Noble Drilling in the USA.
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