No crew seen aboard Bandero as port fees accrue

No crew was visible aboard Bandero, a ship belonging to Paul Watson’s whale protection organisation, when an mbl.is reporter passed through Akranes on Thursday.

The gangway was lowered and the engine was running, probably to maintain electricity and keep the main systems operating.

Gunnar Tryggvason, harbour director of Faxaflóahafnir, said the owners had full access to the ship. A berth fee is charged monthly, he said, but added that he could not comment on the company’s financial affairs.

According to the harbour authority’s website, the daily charge is 10.21 Icelandic krónur per gross tonne. Bandero appears to be registered at 499 tonnes, putting the daily charge at just under 5,100 krónur.

Based on that rate, the ship’s harbour fees so far amount to less than 200,000 krónur.