Arctic Sea: no handover of the ship

Spanish authorities gave permission for the Arctic Sea, the Ladny frigate, which freed the cargo vessel from hijackers, and a Russian tug boat to call at Las Palmas on Sep 15, but cancelled the decision on Sep. 16 without giving any explanation after Malta refused to take part in the handover of the ship, at the Spanish port.

Arctic Sea: Permission to dock slow in coming

A Spanish ministry spokesman denied that Madrid had refused a formal request from Russia to allow the ship to enter the Canary Islands port. "It is not the case that the request from Russian authorities has been rejected. However, no decision has been taken to authorise the Arctic Sea to enter Spanish waters," the spokesman said, as reported on Sep.17.

Solchart files for bankruptcy

Director of Solchart, the beneficial owner of Arctic Sea, Matveev Victor reports woefully:

Members of the committee, neither the crew do not answer the phone calls. Understanding uselessness of the presence of our representative in Las Palmas and full ignorance of our interests and concerns about the future of the vessel, cargo and the Company he was forced to return home on 11th of September. Maltese delegation also left Las Palmas on 11th of September. Since then we do not have any information about the future of the vessel.
As the consequence of such set of events, also after 17th of September, the ship-owner Company has become bankrupt. This also implies that for further exploitation of the vessel it is required to find funds in order to bring the vessel into the working condition and provide it with all the necessities, and also in order to settle accounts with the creditors. We were ready and were doing more than required in this kind of situation from what the ship-owner can and should do.

Liberian-flag Elli hogged - broke apart

M/T ELLI (Liberia, 54880gt), Yemen to Suez in ballast, hogged severely in the Red Sea near Suez Canal. All 24-crew was taken ashore safely 28-August-2009. The tanker was towed and beached.
The former Howard Smith/RW Miller fuel tanker broke apart about 15 nautical miles from the port of Taufiq while awaiting a berth. The vessel was once known as Canopus before being sold to Liquimar of Greece in 1996 and renamed. Worldwide Green Tankers is said to manage a fleet of seven tankers. Brokers reported that the company purchased the vessel from Liquimar Tankers in December 2007 in an en bloc deal which included a sister tanker, the Frixos.

# Name: M T ELLI
# MMSI: 370298000
# IMO: 8420206
# Call sign: 3FND7
# Flag: Liberia
# Vesseltype: Tanker
# Width: 46 m
# Length: 230 m

THE CRUDE
TANKER 'CANOPUS', THEN AUSTRALIAN OWNED BY 'HOWARD SMITH P/L'.
BUILT IN KOREA BY SAMSUNG SHIPBUILDING IN 1986.
DRAFT................12.17 M..13.6 M SUMMER.
SPEED................14.3 KNOTS.
SISTER 'ERA'.CANOPUS SOLD TO GREEK INTERESTS
AND RE-NAMED 'ELLI'.

Irene E.M.: helicopter brought ransom

Irene E.M. ex: Maria C.K.

"We already left the vessel

Irene E.M. (Ex:Maria C.K.)

and now we are dividing our money. A helicopter brought the cash this morning."

Arctic Sea: no dark spots in this story

"The government of Malta and the ship's owner, Arctic Sea LTD Malta, have been notified that the transfer of the Arctic Sea will take place from September 17 through September 18 in the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain's Canary Islands with the participation of Spanish officials," ..."This is why we need to examine the vessel — so that there are no dark spots in this story." said federal Investigative Committee Chief Alexander Bastrykin earlier.

VC-flagged Irene E.M ransomed and released

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines bulk carrier Irene EM, registered owner, Venetico Marine S.A., beneficial: Anral Shipping Ltd. Greece, 21-Filipino crew have been released by Somali pirates following payment of a ransom of $2m, which represents a reduction on the earlier demand for $2.8m