Sanko Mineral

The cargo ship "Sanko Mineral" has been anchored about 4Nm off Teignmouth pretty much constantly since early November 2013 and despite the fact that she isn't a vessel in distress - at least in the maritime sense - we are frequently asked questions about her.

A little plundering of Google has revealed:

  1. The vessels owners, Sanko Steamship Co, seem to be in financial difficulty and are attempting a re-organisation.
  2. Sanko Mineral was subject of arrest and attachment proceeding in the US in 2012 but was subsequently released before ending up off Teignmouth.
  3. AIS indicates that there are 15 vessels worldwide bearing the Sanko name and several of them such as the Sanko Amity anchored in the Gulf of Mexico don't seem to be doing very much. Some such as the Sanko Mermaid seem not moved for so long that AIS has given up on them.