The vessels have been laid up in Piraeus for 11 years and the auction was instigated by a local agent who had not been paid. One of the biggest creditors is the Alafouzos group of Greece, which was doing extensive business with Iraq until 1990.
Shipowner John Alafouzos says the group is owed some $6m to $7m by the Iraqis and says he hopes to get some of it back as the tankers are now being sold.
"It
