ELVITA 1 outbound

Pictured this afternoon sailing at last from the Holy Loch, the Russian-owned, Panamanian-flagged coaster ELVITA 1 was seen as she turned to head down the main channel, on her way to Plymouth. Having been detained by the MCA following an inspection on 29 May, ELVITA 1 effectively closed Sandbank to other vessels calling to load timber, a trade which is now expected to resume shortly. During her unexpectedly long stay at the Holy Loch Marina, her crew were on strike claiming that they had not been paid for several months, and it appears that some of them actually left the vessel, leaving her undermanned. Presumably a new crew has been found allowing her to sail again.