As you all know I have followed this poor freighter from the beginning and now we seem to have at least a light at the end of the tunnel. It looks like the men can come home finally, that have been imprisoned (so to speak) on the vessel for a long time. Russia has lifted all restrictions on the vessel which is allowing it to port at Malta. (Which is the flag it sails under by the way!)

Tidbit of information:

MOSCOW, October 29 (Itar-Tass) -A group of Maltese experts of the Civil Defense Department who tested the Arctic Sea freight ship for radioactivity and presence of hazardous chemical particles have found nothing unusual, the Fairplay Maritime information provider reported with reference to a source in the Malta government.

Is this the end of the tale of a hijacked freighter called the “Arctic Sea”?

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comments always welcome.

As you know I have been following this story on the Arctic Sea for quite some time now. This poor ship has been through the ringer so to speak and there still is a captain and three crew members who are still on board, along with Russian investigators.

The Russian-crewed and Maltese-flagged cargo ship at the center of a mysterious hijacking case is currently being towed towards Malta and may be handed over on Tuesday, the ship’s Finnish owner said.

“The Arctic Sea might be there as soon as tomorrow, in the afternoon,” said Viktor Matveyev, director of Solchart, which holds 100% in the Maltese firm that owns the vessel.

Matveyev earlier said he would travel to Malta to discuss details of the vessel’s handover.

Matveyev said Malta’s maritime officials intended to examine the ship before deciding whether to allow it to enter the port of Valletta or not.

It has not sunk yet and just might be let into the Maltese port… (Remember I said might, because it has not happened yet!)

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Link to Arctic Sea Articles by Windows to Russia!

The Panama-flagged Piruit bulk freighter with 11 (eleven) Russian sailors on board has been stranded since it ran ground in April of 2009, while trying to cross the Panama Canal. The Russian sailors on board have received no wages (owed around $300,000 in wages) since, and are reportedly running low on food and water supplies.

“The court ordered for the Piruit vessel to be impounded,” Pyotr Osichansky told RIA Novosti. “If the owner [registered in the British Virgin Islands] does not pay the wage arrears, the ship will be put up for auction. The money gained from its sale will be used to cover the debts.” (Links)

Seems that sailors all over the world have a really terrible job at times. Lately Russian sailors seems to really have a terrible time with stranded ships. These poor guys can not leave the ships unless the country they are stranded at lets them cross the border.

Talk about being caught between a “rock and a hard place”…

Another article from RIA about the issue Oct. 3rd, 2009 (Link)

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