Drugs ship MV Matthew moved to new location

The MV Matthew leaving its long-held berth near the former IFI plant in Cork Harbour on Monday. Picture: Ger Healy

The MV Matthew has been moved to a new location in Cork Harbour, more than two years after it was seized in a major drugs bust operation.

The vessel was moved from its berth near the former IFI plant this afternoon, accompanied by a number of tugboats, to the Verolme dockyard site in Cork Harbour.

The reason for moving the ship is not known. 

Last month, the Irish Examiner reported that more than €10.88m has been spent on the ship by the State since it was seized in 2023. 

Maintenance of the ship has cost €4.439m from September 2023 up to the end of September 2025. 

The overall cost to the State also included €3.899m for a full-time crew, and €2.542m for the berthing of the vessel in Cork.

Revenue was due before the Dail’s Public Accounts Committee in early December to answer questions in relation to the ongoing costs, according to committee member Séamus McGrath, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central.

The ship was seized after being boarded by the elite army ranger wing off the Cork coast on September 26, 2023. 

In July, eight men were sentenced to a total of 129 years in prison for their role in the botched drug-smuggling attempt. 

Around 2.25 tonnes of cocaine were found on board the MV Matthew, worth approximately €157m. 

The vessel was detained for evidence following the seizure.

Although the vessel was released for potential sale in a court order last December, the vessel remained in situ by the former IFI plant until this afternoon.

A preferred bidder for the sale of the vessel was identified earlier this year. 

However, finance minister Paschal Donohoe said in early November that “Revenue continues to engage with the bidder’s representative”.

He said there were “significant regulatory and legal obligations” which had to be fulfilled before the vessel could leave Cork Harbour.

Mr Donohoe, in a reply to a parliamentary question, stated: “Since March 2025, Revenue has been actively engaging with the vessel’s flag state (Panama) to ensure that these regulatory requirements are satisfied. 

"It should be noted, however, that the manner in which regulatory processes were conducted by the previous owner has resulted in certain difficulties and delays in Revenue being in a position to progress the disposal. 

"Following engagement between Revenue, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Panamanian officials, progress has been made in addressing some of these difficulties, including the registration of Revenue’s ownership of the vessel in the flag state, which was a necessary requirement to facilitate Revenue’s disposing of the vessel. 

"Accordingly, it is anticipated that progress can now be made in the disposal process.”