Shipowner Lumar is appealing for the release of a Ukrainian captain who has spent six weeks in a Greek prison.
The Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG) detained the 1,042-teu Mekong Spirit (built 1996) on 24 May after intelligence suggested the ship was carrying explosives from Turkey to Sudan.
HCG said in an announcement that this was in violation of United Nations (UN) and European Union (UN) sanctions.
Lumar today issued a statement appealing for captain Sergii Nevecheria to be released.
He has been detained in Athens while the 16 seafarers in his crew remain onboard the vessel, which is anchored off Crete.
Lumar claims the Mekong Spirit fully complied with all reporting requirements and no reports were required to Greek authorities as the vessel did not call at any of the nation's ports.
Greek authorities counter that the captain failed to inform them about the Soudan-bound cargo of mining explosives and hunting/sport rifle cartridges.
Boris Lunoff of Lumar said in a statement: “This ship is chartered out to Varamar. All documentation and import permits for their cargo are in hand.
“We have cooperated fully with Greek authorities and provided all relevant cargo manifests to show that the vessel's cargo of mining explosives and hunting rifle cartridges was for civil use and complied fully with all relevant UN and EU regulations and sanctions.”
The company claims the cargo was part of a “legitimate commercial transaction between companies operating in Turkey and Sudan, and none of these companies are restricted by any sanctions”.
There has been no further update on the Mekong Spirit case by the Greek authorities since the day of the detention.
Lumar added: “We appeal to the Greek authorities to release captain Nevacheria without further delay so that he is able to re-join his crew and ship – or at least allow him to move to house arrest.
“The captain's incarceration and the detention of our vessel and 16 crew is a serious infringement of international maritime law.”
