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Russian cargo vessel detained in Denmark over drunk crew members sets sail

The three crew members were arrested and the ship anchored at the Elsinore port

ARKHANGELSK, January 9. /TASS/. Russian general cargo vessel Ivan Bobrov detained on January 1 in Denmark because of drunken crew members set sail with a new crew on Saturday, the Trans-NAO company - the ship’s owner - told TASS.

"The ship was re-fuelled and has continued its voyage to Riga," the shipping company said. "On Thursday, January 8, new top crew members - the captain, chief mate and chief engineer - arrived in Copenhagen from Arkhangelsk."

Earlier reports said that two crew members - chief mate and chief engineer - arrested for alcohol abuse were set free on Friday. The next day they were expected to be deported to Russia. However, the Trans-NAO said that the sailors would be deported on Monday.

"It is the weekend and we were told they would be released on Monday," it said adding the sailors would be under arrest before deportation.

The medical examination in the police station showed that only the captain had the level of alcoholic intoxication above the one allowed by Danish laws.

"The captain will be under arrest till January 15 and no decisions have been taken yet," the shipping company said.

The cargo vessel Ivan Bobrov (home port - the Russian northern port of Arkhangelsk) went from the British port of Ipswich to Latvia’s Riga to be loaded with sawn timber. Then the ship should have come back. The crew are residents of the Russian northern Arkhangelsk region.

In the morning of January 1 the cargo vessel was sailing past the Danish strait Oresund (the Sound) when it deviated from the course. The Danish coastal rescue officers suspected that the crew might be drunk and contacted the vessel by radio.

Arriving at the ship, the police breath tested the nine crew members and found them drunk. The tests showed the captain, his assistant and chief engineer had concentration of alcohol in blood more than 0.5 per mille above the permitted limit for sailors.

The three crew members were arrested and the ship anchored at the Elsinore port. They may face prison terms and the owner - a huge fine.

Over the past two years there have been about ten cases when the captains of cargo vessels were detained in the Danish waters for being in a state of alcoholic intoxication, among them were Dutch, Polish, Russian and Ukrainian nationals.