MV Matthew leaves Cork after 3 years and €16m in costs

The MV Matthew freighter, the subject of a significant drug interdiction off Ireland's coast in 2023, has finally departed Cork Harbour after spending three years docked and incurring substantial costs. The vessel has set sail for a European scrappage company.

In September 2023, an inter-agency operation involving naval, air corps, and army assets intercepted the 28,000-tonne Panama-registered bulk carrier. Army Ranger Wing personnel secured the vessel, allowing members of the Irish Navy, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, and Revenue's Customs Service to board. They discovered 2.2 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value of €157 million, marking a record seizure. The vessel was subsequently detained under the Customs Act, 2015.

Over the past three years, the MV Matthew has cost the state close to €16 million. These expenses cover ongoing maintenance, particularly for its engine, electrical, and ventilation systems, as well as berthing fees, crewing, and security. Although the proceeds from the ship's sale will go to the state, it is anticipated that this amount will only partially offset the significant expenditure incurred during its detention.

Following the seizure, eight men were sentenced to a combined total of 129 years in prison for their involvement. Gardai collaborated with international counterparts in the UAE, United States, China, UK, Spain, and the Caribbean to track the vessel's movements in the weeks leading up to its interception off the Irish coast. The freighter, previously known as the 'MV Honmon,' had a history of operating in waters off China before its transfer via Africa to South American and Caribbean routes.