A cargo vessel with almost 230 tons of rotting meat on board can find no harbor willing to accept it -- and its crew is currently stuck aboard the smelly vessel at sea, according to a report from www.russiantoday.com

Photo by: vesseltracker.com Photo from site vesseltracker.com

The freighter Beriks left the Georgian port of Poti back in February 2008, the site reported. Shortly after that, the ship’s onboard refrigerators broke down and tons of meat and poultry cargo started to rot, according to the Svobodnaya Pressa newspaper.

The ship was bound for Turkey, passing several Ukrainian ports en route, the Novy Region news agency reported. According to their account, the captain tried to stop for repairs, but port authorities barred the freighter from entering, leaving the crew stuck aboard with their foul-smelling problem.

In April, the ship -- dubbed the “Stinking Dutchman” (in a reference to the ever-wandering “Flying Dutchman” ghost ship of maritime folklore) -- ended up anchored in the Kerch Strait in between Black Sea and Sea of Azov. The vessel was told to stay 20 kilometers off the Crimean shore, far enough not to disturb the locals.

Twelve crewmembers are stuck aboard with a limited supply of food and water. They reportedly have tried several times tried to flee the stinky ship, but were forced to go back by Ukrainian coast guard officers.

Ukrainian officials say the problem is not theirs to solve, despite the freighter cruising under the Ukrainian flag.

“The cargo has no documents, and regional veterinary services have no grounds to go on board,” said Ivan Gurenko, deputy head of veterinary directorate for Crimea. “The law says a vessel with meat, which turns out to be spoiled or dangerous, should be reclaimed by the owner or returned.”

Ukrainian officials say the stinky ship may stay where it is all summer, even though it may deter tourists from Russia and Ukraine visiting the region.