Nilaya / Berserk Missing

[Landkrabbe]

The New Zealand customs authorities and coast guard are searching for the vessel Nilaya, which is suspected to be trying to sneak its way ilegally to Antarctica with Jarle Andhøy and Samuel Massie aboard. Andhøy was in charge of the disasterous Berserk expedition which sank last year, and lacked the necessary permits from the Norwegian government. They were also uninsured. Three people are presumed dead on that expedition.

The Norwegian government notified the other parties of the Antarctic Treaty in early January 2012 that Andhøy had submitted a cursory application for going again this year, but had failed to submit any of the additional information requested (environmental impact analysis, detailed description of the purpose and equipment of the expedition, proof of insurance etc.) and they hadn't heard from him since. They suspected that Andhøy was trying to illegally travel to Antartica. Indeed the New Zealand authorities said that Andhøy had broken the law on his entry to New Zealand because he had failed to state that he has been deported from Canada. They also pointed out that it would be illegal for any vessel to leave New Zealand waters without customs clearance.

New Zealand is asking any vessels in the area to provide information on the wherabouts of the Nilaya, which may have been bought by Andhøy and might possibly have been renamed to Berserk.

Friends of Andhøy said a press release was forthcoming. His lawyer refused to say where he was. The person who has the Nilaya for sale couldn't be reached by the media.

This sort of thing gives boaters, and Norwegians, a bad name, in my opinion. At least I feel ashamed.

News story: Sea, air search for Norwegian boatie

Old threads:
Heedless Venture to Antarctica
Bærserk, Missing in Rossøy, McMurdo