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MORE CHARGES

Under arrest at Murmansk, Russia

The Russian  drill rig involved


Greenpeace RHIB alongside the Russian drill rig
 
UPDATE:
 
We would suggest readers refer to the article in the maritime blog gCAPTAIN titled "Seaman Unions Defend Greenpeace Crew".   NAUTICAL LOG is not and has not been a member of any of the Unions mentioned in the article during a 60 year oceangoing sea career. 
 
NAUTICAL LOG does not have an opinion on these Union actions, but does regard the Greenpeace action as piracy in that it violates UNCLOS which clearly defines Acts of Piracy.  It will be the decision of an Admiralty Court to rule after consideration of all the circumstances and opinions.    
 
Good Watch.
 
Peter Willcox, Master of MS Arctic Sunrise and MM&P member.
 

According to the European Media reports this morning the Russians are preferring drug charges against the Greenpeace ship MS Arctic Sunrise crew.  Russian investigators say they have found poppy straw and morphine on board the vessel.  These can be used to produce heroin, however the morphine is claimed by Greenpeace to be part of the ships medical supplies.  NAUTICAL LOG believes the carriage of morphine is restricted in accordance with the level of medical expertise and necessity on board a vessel as per MSN 1768 (M+F) MCA, UK.

While the Netherlands - which has a liberal national drug policy - has demanded the immediate release of the ship which is Dutch flagged and its crew it is not that simple.  The crew come from 18 different Nations so there is international interest.

No doubt the Russians are looking at every little thing to increase the charges - with 15 year punishments - against the ship and its crew but Greenpeace must accept that they have left themselves wide open to the Russian law enforcement authorities by violating both Russian national law and International maritime law (UNCLOS).

Good Watch

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