Arctic Sea: Investigations by Maltese team
A Maltese team composed of police officers and officials from the Malta Maritime Authority boarded the Arctic Sea yesterday to carry out a maritime safety investigation into the ship in parallet with a law enforcement one, the MMA said.
The MMA said that an agreement was reached between the Russian and Maltese authorities for a Maltese team to join the Russian investigative team who boarded the Arctic Sea on Monday.
The ship is currently under the control of the Russian authorities and is located 16 nautical miles off Las Palmas.
The Maltese flagged ship is owned by a Finnish company whose inspectors were yesterday stopped by Russian soldiers from boarding the ship.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman would not confirm the alleged involvement of Israeli secret agents in the mysterious disappearance of the Maltese-flagged cargo ship, reportedly to thwart the delivery of missiles to Iran.
The reaction came in the wake of reports in the British media on Sunday that the Israeli intelligence service Mossad was behind the Arctic Sea's hijacking.
AFP quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissing the reports as "absolutely not true".
The Arctic Sea, which has a Russian crew, was allegedly hijacked in Swedish waters in late July before being recovered by the Russian navy in the Atlantic Ocean several weeks later.
The ship was officially carrying timber from Finland to Algeria.
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Raymond Sammut
Sep 12th 2009, 08:41
@ joe portelli
How is it "Public knowledge what the ship was carrying"? Since when British media speculation becomes "knowledge"?
And the ship is not "Owned by Finnish groups". The owners are Russians. The Finns own only the cargo.
It is also too late for Malta to seek "EU advice". The EU did absolutely nothing when an EU registered ship was hijacked deep inside EU territory. The Maltese flag was left at the mercy of the hijackers, along with the seafarers manning the ship. No-one can tell the Russians what to do when the safety of their nationals is threatened.
joe portelli
Sep 12th 2009, 03:43
Re " The ship was officially carrying timber from Finland to Algeria." Is it not already Public knowledge what the ship was carrying ?
So teh Ship is Maltese Registered and Owned by Finnish groups and the Russians stopped Finnish representatives boarding teh ship ? The Russians must have something to hide, that may be embarrassing - if they own the Ship and not Registered in their country, 16 miles off Las Palmas is thousands od miles from Russian continental shelf - how come the vessel is under Russian Control? Why are the Maltese authorities recognizing this ?
I think it stinks and they should be open - Russia cannot control its Mafia russina arms have become a commodity - like rice, sugar, missiles etc.
Stop playing games and whatever this little island does it should seek EU advice before breaking rules Russian style
I side with Russia on the Georgia incident, but this one is a real international matter and they must come clean.
h galea
Sep 12th 2009, 00:17
The MMA and Malta police, should kick Russian Authorites off the Maltese Flaged Ship. It is an insult to Malta that such people do not even know our own regulations or should be better international regulations. What the hell they are going to investegate. I ask the PM and the Minister concerned to read our M M Laws and take action. ( it's Sabotage )
Christopher Farrugia
Sep 11th 2009, 22:25
I just wonder, whether the secret visit by the Israeli Premier to Russia is linked with this 'hijack'.