The ship was powered by a geared diesel engine driving two controllable pitch screws and a bow thruster, creating 2,640 brake horsepower (1,970 kW).

Additional payments were subsequently identified and determined to be for the refurbishment of an ex-Canadian Coast Guard ship now named Destiny Empress.

Destiny Empress docked in Trinidad for some time for preparations prior to departing for Europe, including the building of a hidden compartment to transport drugs.

[5] On 22 December 2009, a joint European law enforcement team, including Spanish Police and Italy's Air Maritime Exploration Squadron Guardia di Finanza (a special flight Squadron of the Italy' GDF Air Service), acting on intelligence from the London Metropolitan Police, seized the ship and arrested the seven person crew 200 nmi (370 km) west of Spain's northwest coast.

[6] After several days of searching, officers found a secret compartment under a trap door that had been bolted down with an aluminum plate and covered by carpet in one of Destiny Empress's rooms.

On 4 December three members of the crew, Mehai Alexandru Grau, Stephanescu Vichenta and Reginald Stuart II, were released though they were not permitted to leave Spain until the conclusion of proceedings.

Mehai Alexandru Grau, Stephanescu Vichenta and Reginald Stuart II were found innocent, but were not able to seek compensation for time served because of legal nuance.

[citation needed] Destiny Empress was sold by Spanish authorities in auction and subsequently arrived at Aliağa, Turkey for demolition on 19 July 2011.