HSBC pushes to clear yard

Lawyers for embattled boat builder Ivan Erceg were in court yesterday after banking giant HSBC filed to have the chattels removed from his old shipyard so that it can go ahead with a mortgagee sale.

Erceg, the brother of the late multi-millionaire alcopop king Michael Erceg, is still believed to be in France.

Since he left for Europe last year, he has been bankrupted and his company Sensation Yachts has been placed into receivership and liquidation.

HSBC lawyer James Burt said the bank wanted the chattels removed as it would be easier to sell the property.

The bank has filed proceedings against Erceg as the main defendant but also against Sensation New Zealand, Sensation Yachts, Dorchester Finance and Balenia.

Burt said he assumed Erceg was in France but neither he nor HSBC knew his exact whereabouts.

Erceg's lawyers are due back in court next month. Erceg was bankrupted in February after creditor Balenia was successful in its application.

Peter Jollands of Jollands Callander was appointed by Erceg as Sensation Yachts' receiver last August.