Shift crew for Arctic Sea is sent to Malta

29.10.2009 Source: RIA Novosti

Exchange crew for cargo vessel Arctic Sea staying near Maltese coast and waiting for permit for port call has departed from Arkhangelsk on Thursday, said to RIA Novosti Alexander Krasnoshtan, Russian Guild of Sailors, Northern branch Director.

Cargo ship Arctic Sea with Russian 15-men crew aboard was sailing from Finland to Algeria when mysteriously disappeared late July. It was found in the Atlantic near Cabo Verde on Aug 16. According to investigation, Arctic Sea was hijacked by eight citizens of Estonia, Latvia and Russia. Black Sea Fleet marines conducted the crew release operation.

Eleven crewmembers were sent to Russia right after release. The rest four men including the captain remained at the vessel; Russian investigators started to work aboard.

"Fourteen men departed yesterday from Arkhangelsk – that is shift crew for Arctic Sea", said Krasnoshtan to RIA Novosti referring to sailors.

There is no information when four crewmembers staying on board for over two months will be returned to Russia, he said.

"The matter of port call should be settled at first. I've no idea how much time it will take", said the interviewee.

The cargo ship is currently waiting for permit to call at La Valletta port. Meanwhile, Maltese maritime authorities said that the vessel could call at port only when civil defense service and police make certain of its safety.

There were suggestions in media that the cargo vessel might carry not only wood. In particular, there were versions of drugs and even S-300 missiles. Russian Investigative Committee stated after investigatory actions that no undeclared cargo was detected aboard.

The ship was towed to Las Palmas early Sept. According to Investigative Committee, the vessel should have been handed over to its owner on Sept 17, although it did not happen. Few days later, the cargo ship left that region under tow.

Russia proposed to tow the vessel to Algerian port as consignee was an Algerian company, but authorities of the country refused to permit a port call, said Andrei Nesterenko, Russian MFA spokesman on Oct 8. It was said at the same time that Arctic Sea was at anchor west Gibraltar accompanied with salvage vessel and Russian corvette. At the end of last week the vessel headed for Malta under tow where the issue of port call must be settled.