In North Africa, I was asked to investigate why a ship laden with bagged rice was not being discharged by the cargo receiver, which was a local state owned trading company. The investigation pointed to corruption amongst senior executives in this company – officials who were too senior for the local P&I correspondent to reach.
Using my own connections to establish a link to a close advisor to the country’s President, I was able to find a face-saving solution that allowed the cargo to be discharged and the ship to sail.