No Takers For Controversial Mozambican Longliners On Sale

The 24 Mozambican longliners, which were purchased nearly a decade back to be added into the national fleet, and put back on the market have no buyers. The vessels, which were part of the tuna bonds scandal that collapsed the African nation’s economy, are currently moored in the Maputo Port without having undertaken any fishing operations to date. Mozambican fishing company Ematum, which owns the vessels – 21 tuna boats and 3 trawlers – put them up for bidding last November with a deadline in the first week of December 2024. However, it did not yield results and the company, which expects to raise at least USD 10 million from the deal, postponed the last bidding date until February 21. The longliners were put up for sale in the auction site Leilosoc.

A statement from Ematum read that the engines, navigation, and fishing equipment of the boats are in excellent condition, reported African news sites. It added that the longliners were built to accommodate eight crew members, but were later modified to support 14.