A ship whose crew were slapped with an arrest warrant slipped out of Maltese waters unchallenged because no army patrol boats were available to intercept it, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.
The incident happened on Wednesday evening when the army’s maritime section was busy monitoring EU membership anniversary celebrations in Grand Harbour that included letting off fireworks from barges.
Due to national security issues I cannot divulge specific details
Shipping industry sources said the oil tanker, MT Atlantik, turned off all radio communication when Transport Malta ordered it to drop anchor after the court issued a warrant of seizure.
The Atlantik was performing bunkering operations inside territorial waters when contact was cut and the maritime authorities asked the army to intercept the 60,000-tonne ship. However, sources said the army could not intervene as its boats were deployed in Grand Harbour.
With on-board communication equipment switched off, the oil tanker ‘disappeared’ from tracking screens and sailed away. It was yesterday located in Turkish waters.
When asked about the incident, the Armed Forces of Malta declined to comment, citing “national security issues”. A spokesman for the AFM said certain information in The Sunday Times of Malta’s possession was incorrect, but he failed to point out what was wrong.
“The AFM always acted responsibly in this case and in any other case involving Maltese interests. Unfortunately, due to national security issues I cannot divulge specific details with regard to the mentioned case,” the spokesman said, without elaborating.
The arrest warrant was issued after the court accepted an application filed by lawyer John Refalo on behalf of Shannon SA, a Liberian-registered company.
Shannon had entered into an agreement to buy the Atlantik but the vendors changed their minds and entered into commercial arrangements with third parties for the use of the vessel.
The two sides eventually signed a new agreement by which the deposit paid on the ship by Shannon had to be returned, plus compensation to the tune of €651,185 for losses suffered as a result of non-delivery.
Shannon claimed the deposit was paid back but the compensation remained unpaid and asked the court to issue a warrant of seizure on the ship during its brief stop in Malta.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com