BarentsObserver yesterday wrote how “Arctic Sunrise” has been hampered form leaving port after being released from arrest on June 6. Later the same day all inspections and bureaucratic procedures were finished, and the vessel started its voyage to Amsterdam, Greenpeace’s web site reads.
Watch video from the vessel’s depature on Blogger51
Head of Greenpeace Russia’s energy program Vladimir Chuprov believes the organization’s protests against Russian drilling in the Arctic and the following international attention have had a positive impact on Russian politics: “Not long ago the President directed the Government and companies to develop measures to preserve the Arctic’s biodiversity and protect it from oil spills. Russia has declared that it will work for the Arctic Council to sign an international juridical binding agreement on protection of Arctic waters from pollution. The Ministry of Natural Resources has finally acknowledged the menacing proportions of oils pills in Russia and Gazprom has developed an oil spill response plan.”
Yesterday’s article in BarentsObserver:
Greenpeace vessel still stuck in Murmansk
Greenpeace’s icebreaker “Arctic Sunrise” is still waiting to leave Murmansk after the nine month long arrest of the vessel was abolished on June 6. Repairs, bureaucratic procedures and military activity in the Kola Bay have hampered the departure.
Greenpeace had hoped to be able to sail the “Arctic Sunrise” from Murmansk on July 22, but the departure has been delayed by Port Authorities and customs service, the organization’s press secretary Mariya Favorskaya says to ITAR-TASS.
The Kola Bay was closed for civilian vessels for several days in connection with the preparations to and celebration of the Russian Navy Day on June 28, when President Vladimir Putin visited the Northern Fleet base of Severomorsk, Komsomolskaya Pravda writes.
While the vessel is waiting for pilotage and permission from the Border Guards to leave port, the bill for the involuntary port call keeps rising. The organization has already been made to pay $5000 for the moorage since the vessel was released form arrest, ITAR-TASS writes.
The vessel was released from arrest on June 6, but the Greenpeace representatives were only given access three weeks later, Greenpeace says to ITAR-TASS.
According to the organization, much of the vessel’s navigation and communication equipment was either missing or destroyed, and the vessel was in need of comprehensive repairs before it would be ready to sail to its home port Amsterdam.
“Arctic Sunrise” and its international crew of 30 people were arrested by Russian authorities in September 2013 after some of the activists activists attempted to scale Gazprom’s Prirazlomnaya platform in the Pechora Sea. The criminal charges against the crew were dropped in December, but the vessel remained in Murmansk.
