BUNK beds found on a freighter impounded by marine authorities under suspicion of smuggling illegal immigrants were to be used in an oil rig operation off the coast of Guam, according to the man who chartered the vessel.
Mr Alvin Ng of Singapore yesterday said a Bangkok broker had arranged for a shipment of the beds to the oil rig and the suspicion was a big misunderstanding.
He said he had lost track of the ship, the 881-tonne Sea Raider, after it departed from the Philippines for China to pick up oil rig equipment.
An offer to transport the beds came from the Bangkok broker, which had since gone out of business, more than a year ago. The Sea Raider was chartered from a Manila company, Superior S.G. Shipyardes Corp.
His contact there was a man by the name of Captain San Gredriel. The monthly fee to charter the vessel was US$31,000 (HK$239,692), Mr Ng said.
He denied that the rusting bunk beds, a large supply of foodstuffs, cooking utensils and lifejackets were intended for use in any smuggling operation.
Both men will fly to Hongkong within the next couple of days to offer a full explanation to the Marine Department.