The company, which has three small general
cargoships and a cement carrier built between 1960 and 1992, said: "Due to
the continuing strained economic climate and the adverse effects this has had
on the shipping industry, Independent Shipping is unfortunately in a position
where vessels have stopped trading for the time being.
"Every effort is being made to find a
positive solution and all our crews on the vessels are top priority.
"They are being well provided for by
the company with provisions, fuel and water along with daily contact from
company representatives."
The company’s owner, cement importer Dudman
Group of the UK, filed for administration last month following cash flow
trouble.
Independent’s 1,700-dwt cargoship Torrent (built
1992) has been detained by the UK Admiralty Marshal in Rye.
The crew of five Ukrainians and one Russian
have remained on board.
The vessel is managed by Torbulk of the UK.
Dudman administrator James Stares, of Grant
Thornton, said: “We are currently reviewing the business and identifying what
the best option is. We would not be able to speculate as to whether or not
there will be redundancies until that review is complete.”
