The crew of a shrimp-flagged fishing boat, including Russians, Ukrainians and Lithuanians, has been held for eight months in Maputo harbour due to a legal dispute, with Russia seeking their release.
A note from the Russian Foreign Ministry, published today by the state news agency RIA Novosti, says that there are five people on the fishing vessel “Volopas”, already without fuel or electricity, that two of them, including the captain, are Russian, and that the crew only has food once a day.
He added that the Russian crew had informed the government of their desire to return to their country and that the Russian Embassy in Mozambique “immediately turned to the local authorities for assistance”.
“Relevant notes were sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mozambique, contact was established with representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, the National Migration Service, the Maputo Port Authority,” added the Russian diplomatic service, noting that the crew is “hostage to a financial and property dispute between the company that owns the ship and the local agent.”
With the ship stranded in Maputo – the specifics of the dispute have not been revealed – the port authorities insist that a minimum number of crew members must be present to keep the vessel afloat. According to the Russian government, with the help of diplomats in Maputo, the ship has resumed the supply of technical water and a gas cooker has been delivered on board.
“Russian diplomats are constantly monitoring the situation on board, the sailors are receiving the necessary support. Intense consultations are continuing with the relevant authorities in Mozambique to resolve the current situation,” the ministry added.
Lusa
