As per the information available the Korean flagged jigger was operating in Falkland Islands’ waters. Suddenly the boat suffered extensive damage following a fire in the engine room. Her fate seems to be breaking her up. The boat wanted port access in Chile but the Chilean officials in he extreme south of the country have decided to deny port access in Punta Arenas.
According to Punta Arenas authorities the 370 ton Korean jigger Myung Jin 601, built in 1974 regularly operated in South Atlantic waters and was towed to the south of Chile (the nearest ship-yard) for repairs on instructions from a London insurance company. After seeing her worst condition Punta Arenas maritime officials have decided to ban her from sailing in Chilean waters. This also prevented the jigger from being towed to some other port in the Atlantic or Pacific and was not considered suitable for a aquaculture reef. Since then, she has suffered leaks of ammonium used for the cooling system and fuel tanks which, even at their lowest levels, are no longer reliable.
Punta Arenas port Captain Pablo Ferrada said that given this situation it was decided to support the request to sell her for breaking up. He told but to proceed in this way the Customs introduction of the vessel had to be as “junk metal.” The jigger is currently moored with special steel reinforcements under strict security measures.
