Drugs ship MV Matthew returns to Cork harbour as it emerges costs have reached almost €12m

New figures show the €11.93m costs are made up of €4.8m in maintenance, €4.18m in staffing and €2.93m in berthing

The MV Matthew was returned to its regular berthing spot at Marino Point on Wednesday, after it was moved to the Verolme dockyard in Cobh on Monday. Picture: Larry Cummins

The MV Matthew has been returned to its berth in Cork harbour two days after the drugs ship was moved, as it emerged the bill for its storage, management and maintenance is almost €12m.

New figures provided by former finance minister Paschal Donohoe to Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins show that the spend on the vessel to the end of October totals €11.93m.

It comes as the boat was returned to its regular berthing spot at Marino Point on Wednesday, after it was moved to the Verolme dockyard in Cobh on Monday.

A spokesman for Revenue told the Irish Examiner: “We can confirm that this vessel moves berth periodically (approx monthly) within the Port of Cork to facilitate the discharge of a commercial vessel at Marino Point, after which the MV Matthew returns to its usual berth at Marino Point. The duration of these moves is typically two-three days.” 

Revenue is due before the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee in early December to answer questions in relation to the ongoing costs of the MV Matthew.

According to Paschal Donohoe’s response, the €11.93m costs are made up of €4.8m in maintenance, €4.18m in staffing and €2.93m in berthing.

He told Mr Collins the bidding process for the ship concluded in the first three months of this year when a preferred bidder was identified.

“Revenue continues to engage with the bidder’s representative. There are significant regulatory and legal obligations which must be fulfilled in order to finalise the disposal of the MV Matthew and to facilitate the removal of the vessel from Cork Harbour,” Mr Donohoe said.

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 a botched drug-smuggling attempt — 2.25 tonnes of cocaine were found on board the MV Matthew, worth about €157m. 

Although the vessel was released for potential sale in a court order last December, the vessel remains in Cork harbour.

Member of the Public Accounts Committee, Fianna Fáil TD Seamus McGrath, told the Irish Examiner he would be asking Revenue officials why the disposal of the vessel was taking so long.

He said he would also be querying “what level of preparation they had in terms of the disposal process. It was released by the courts last December. We are almost one year on. They always knew the day would come when they would have to dispose of this vessel — it was always going to be released by the courts.

“I query why a lot of the preparatory work could not have been done sooner so that the vessel could be disposed of in a more timely manner.”