Bodden Shipping clarifies Sea Elephant incident

Bodden Shipping Agency - Press statement

Bodden Shipping has become aware of speculation on an internet site regarding the tanker MT Sea Elephant. It is a source of regret that the publisher of the article in question did not attempt to speak with Bodden Shipping before publishing information about us quoting anonymous “government sources” that was inaccurate.
Due to the ongoing criminal investigation Bodden Shipping is limited in what we can say about the Sea Elephant and the circumstances of its visit to Cayman Brac on 6 July 2024, however, some of the inaccuracies in the article must be corrected.
The article implies that Bodden Shipping is at fault for the Sea Elephant’s inability to dock in Grand Cayman - this is wrong. Similarly, the suggestion that this is because we “retired the last five Caymanian pilots” is completely misconceived. Our former pilots who retired did so either at their own request or because they were in their 80s and it was no longer appropriate for them to continue this work. The reason Bodden Shipping has not hired new Caymanian pilots is that there are none with the advanced Master Mariner qualifications required to do this work - as such we hired highly experienced professionals from overseas.
Pilotage services have not been suspended or terminated - as evidenced by the berthing of the GTM Germany at Jackson Point terminal on July 17th. Similarly, we have informed all relevant parties that we will provide pilotage services for the Sea Elephant as soon as berthing prospects are available. Bodden Shipping has been in business since 1979 faithfully serving the interests of the people of the Cayman Islands and will continue to do so.
Following the incident in Cayman Brac we and our pilots reached out to the DoE and other investigating agencies offering to assist with their investigation and attend, at a place and time of the DoE’s choosing, in order to be interviewed about the events in Cayman Brac. Those offers were rejected and our pilots were instead met by multiple enforcement officers, arrested and taken to detention centers.
Notwithstanding this our pilots continue to perform their professional duties and we remain willing to assist the authorities with their investigations. We look forward to the rapid conclusion of the investigation and the exoneration of our pilots.