sep 27, 2013 - Rhosus loads AN in Georgia

Description:

"The cargo, packaged in large white sacks, was worth around $700,000 at 2013 prices, according to an industry source." Reuters

Photo evidence from IK source shows the bags were 1000 kg each. This matches with statements from Lebanese officials in July 2014 about there being "2750 bags"

MV Rhosus is chartered by Igor Grechuskin (Russian in Cyprus) via Teto shipping, a company in the Marshall Islands. The Rhosus is chartered from a company in Panama, Briarwood Corporation, according to official records from Moldova’s Naval Agency (see OCCRP for details on the ship and its ownership).

OCCRP report the true owner is Cypriot businessman Charalambos Manoli, via the Panamaniam firm. Appears Manoli was in debt to a Hizballah affiliated and US sanctioned bank (FBME) and used the Rhosus as collateral:

Rhosus is apparently uninsured (Reuters citing sources). But this should be checked.

Captain on bill of lading is Abakumov Viacheslav but he is later replaced by capt Boris Prokoshev (see AL Jadeed for pics) who joins in Instanbul

destination was originally Mozambique, but before leaving the Med. it was "diverted" to Beirut. "two crew members say they were instructed by the Russian businessman they regarded as the ship’s de facto owner, Igor Grechushkin, to make an unscheduled stop in Beirut and take on extra cargo."

OCCRP Der Spegiel investigation tells a different story and suggests that Beirut was ultimate destination (implying FEM was the false end-user)

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