Arctic Sea investigation comes to an end

10.02.2010
Investigation on cargo vessel Arctic Sea captured by pirates comes to an end, informs Rossiyskaya Gazeta citing Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russian Procuracy Investigative Committee.

Late January RIA Novosti reported referring to Russian Guild of Sailors that the ship would continue previous route [Finland-Algeria] in March with the same shipmaster and most crewmen.

On July 24, 2009 at 11.00 pm Moscow time at the Baltic Sea a fast-speed inflatable boat with 8 Estonians, Latvians and Russians on board approached Maltese-flagged dry cargo ship Arctic Sea carrying timber from Finland to Algeria. Pretending their boat was broken, the criminals got on board and menacing the crew with guns demanded full submission.

Later on, the vessel headed for African coast with navigation equipment switched off. On August 17 the ship was released by RNS frigate Ladny 300 nm off Cape Verde. Eight captors and eleven crewmen of Arctic Sea were delivered to Moscow. After that released sailors returned home to Arkhangelsk. Four crewmembers including the shipmaster, boatswain and engineer remained at the ship to hand her over to Maltese authorities. For some time the vessel could not call at Maltese port due to juridical protractions. Once all problems were resolved Arctic Sea delivered her cargo to Algeria and returned back to Finland late Dec 2009.

Russian Procuracy Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case based on part 3 clause 126 [kidnapping] and part 3 clause 227 [piracy] of RF Criminal Code.

Source: RusNavy.com, photo: Arctic Sea (shipspotting.com)