Almost €14m spent on upkeep of drug ship MV Matthew in Cork Harbour

Works are being carried out on the MV Matthew ship, on which more than 2,000kg of cocaine was seized, but no timeline on its disposal is available as costs rise to nearly €13.7m, the Revenue Commissioners have said.

The ship, which was caught up in a massive drug seizure off the Cork coast in late 2023, has been berthed in Cork Harbour in Revenue care since then.

The disposal process has been plagued by delays. Following Revenue formally seizing the vessel in October 2023, they took preparatory steps to sell it, but the following month were told the ship was required for evidential purposes in the associated criminal trial.

In December 2024, the Special Criminal Court authorised the ship’s release. A bidding process concluded at the start of 2025, and a preferred bidder was identified.

However, Revenue said in a letter to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in October last year that there were regulatory obligations that had to be fulfilled to finalise the disposal.

“Significant challenges and delays arose in this regard, due to the manner in which regulatory processes were conducted by the previous owner and the fact that the vessel was used as a conveyance for international drug smuggling,” they said, adding that they had been “actively engaging” with Panama, the vessel’s flag state.

Progress 

A spokesperson for Revenue told The Echo this week that progress had been made: “In December 2025, Revenue received confirmation from the Panama Maritime Authority Ships Registry that it had completed all registration of title requirements and that title of ownership and the certificate of registration documents have issued from the vessel’s flag state. This was an important legal requirement to facilitate progressing disposal of the vessel.”

They added that, at this juncture, certain clearance processes and regulatory requirements are necessary before the vessel can depart from Cork port. To ensure that the vessel obtains the necessary certification and clearance approvals, certain remedial and preparatory works are being carried out.

“This work, together with ensuring compliance with the regulatory processes to facilitate the vessel’s departure remain ongoing and as such, it is not possible to give a firm timeline for the departure of the vessel,” they added.

Crewing

Revenue said up to the end of December 2025, nearly €13.7m had been spent on the ship’s management and maintenance. This includes €3.4m for “berthing, unberthing and movement of the vessel”, as well as €4.6m for crewing. 

A further €5.7m has been spent on ship’s stores and provisions, bunkering fuel, waste removal, miscellaneous repairs and maintenance, professional fees, and insurance.

Revenue previously said it is funding only what is necessary to maintain the ship, but given its size, it represents a significant environmental, ecological and economic risk, requiring it to be crewed and maintained.

Chair of the Revenue Commissioners Niall Cody told the PAC in December that it is more likely that the ship will be scrapped than sold, and that they were hopeful that this would take place in the next six months.