Pasha Bulker listed for sale on eBay
Tuesday Jun 19 17:33 AEST
The bulk carrier Pasha Bulker has been listed for sale on eBay, attracting bids up to $16 million despite being grounded off a Newcastle beach for more than a week.
EBay spokesman Daniel Feiler said the listing was "clearly" not legitimate and would be removed from the site.
Seller jonno504 says the coal carrier is "in excellent condition with a huge capacity for cargo although it could be converted to a hotel, floating restaurant, casino or retirement village".
"The views are amazing from just about anywhere on this little beauty although a chopper (not included in sale) is required for easy passage onto and off the boat."
"Unfortunately the crew have left so a new crew will have to be supplied at your own cost. Shipping is at the buyers expense also, but pick up is preferred."
With nine days left in the auction, 21 bids have been made, escalating from $2 to $16 million in less than an hour.
The 40,000 tonne vessel was blown aground 20 metres off Nobbys Beach on June 8, at the height of a storm that brought gale force winds and torrential rains to Sydney, the Central Coast and the Hunter region.
Salvage operations have been put on hold as a third wild storm approaches the state, bringing cyclonic winds and seven-metre seas.
"This is clearly not a legitimate (sale) item," Mr Feiler said.
"If it is the Pasha Bulker that's on there for sale - and it is clearly not for sale - we'll probably be removing it this later afternoon, or within the next day or so.
"We do have systems in place (to check the legitimacy of auctions) but as a marketplace that brings people together but never actually receives the item, and the fact the Pasha Bulker is not an item that we would necessarily be looking for, there are these kind of items that slip through the cracks."
The item return policy was not specified by jonno504, who was praised as a "Great Seller! - A pleasure to deal with" by previous customers.