UK Authorities Arrest Russian Cargo Ship in British Port - Union Watchdog

UK Authorities Arrest Russian Cargo Ship in British Port - Union Watchdog
17.01.2019 https://sputniknews.com/europe/201901171071564943-russian-cargo-ship-arr...

The dry cargo vessel is said to belong to a Murmansk-based shipping company.

The Kuzma Minin bulk carrier, previously stranded in a shallow not far from the British port of Falmouth, southwestern UK, has been arrested over the shipowner's debts, International Transport Workers' Federation coordinator Sergei Fishov has told Sputnik.

"According to our records, it was arrested about a week ago. Currently, to the best of my knowledge, the vessel is located in the UK, and under arrest by creditors for the shipowner's debts," the official said.

Later in the day, British authorities confirmed the detention of the vessel in connection with multiple alleged "deficiencies." The freighter's crew is safe aboard the ship, which has access to food, provided by local seafarer charities, as well as electrical and engine power, according to the UK's Maritime & Coastguard Agency.

"The Kuzma Minin remains detained by the MCA pending necessary repairs and until other detainable deficiencies have been rectified by the owners," Maritime & Coastguard Agency press officer Laura Etheridge told Sputnik, referring the news agency to a series of alleged issues said to serve as grounds for detention under UK maritime rules.

The Russian Embassy in the UK told Sputnik that it was in contact with the Kuzma Minin's captain, and described the UK authorities' approach to the situation as "constructive."

"The Embassy maintains contact with the captain, and with representatives of the UK authorities, who are approaching the situation in a constructive manner. We are working off the presumption that settlement of the issue lies first and foremost in the realm of the commercial relationship between the shipowner and its partners," an Embassy representative said.

The ship's operator, the Murmansk Shipping Company, has declined to provide Sputnik with a commentary regarding its ship's detention.

According to Fishov, the Murmansk Shipping Company has nine vessels abroad, with part of them arrested.

The Kuzma Minin, a bulk carrier with displacement of 16,000 tons, was refloated by the British Coast Guard last month after running aground off the coast of Cornwall on December 18. Examination by divers discovered that the vessel's hull received minor damage in the accident. Prior to the incident, the ship had long been stationed at a berth in the Dutch port of Terneuzen due to a commercial dispute between the ship's owners and their partners. 18 crew members were on board the vessel when it ran aground off the UK coast.