The three-week detention in Libya of the ferry Azzurra had an impact on the Maltese economy, Karm Borg, the financial controller of the Zammit Group, operators of the vessel, said today.

Speaking soon after the ferry returned to Grand Harbour, he said that each trip carried cargo worth between €2m and €2.5m in products mostly bought in Malta. There was a local added value of some 20 to 25%, some €800,000 per trip. These losses, he said, had had an impact on many businesses in Malta.

Mr Borg said this was a difficult experience and he hoped the company would not have to go through it again.However he was confident that this was not a political issue between the two countries and relations remained very good.

The ship will be returning to Libya as soon as tomorrow, heading for Misurata, and Mr Borg said demand was such that the once-weekly trip may be increased to two.

The Turkish captain of the ship, Engin Ozbek - who will be heading home instead of returning to Libya - said Libyan officials three weeks ago went on board and took him and the Chief Officer to a police station. He said the Libyan authorities were nice to them but kept them in the police station for two days. They were then allowed back to the ship.

He said the Libyan authorities had searched the ship but found nothing illegal. He said the crew spent their days on the ship carrying out maintenance work. 

The Azzurra was allowed to leave Tripoli Harbour yesterday at 3 p.m. and arrived in Malta shortly after 12.00.

Mr Borg expressed his gratitude for the help given by the Maltese government over the past weeks.

The ship was crewed by 24 Turks, a Maltese and a Maltese-Australian. Another three Maltese crewmen returned to Malta last week.

The ship was detained after contraband claims by a Libyan businessman which do not appear to have been proved. The vessel was released after intervention by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.