A FOUR-month nightmare ended for the crew of a Ukrainian freighter after an arrest warrant was lifted in the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
The MV Inessa Armand, with, 27 crew members on board, has been lying off Whitehead, Co Antrim, since Admiralty officials impounded it in a dispute over unpaid bills.
The arrest followed a claim by the Belfast shipping company, Alex M. Hamilton, that it was owed Pounds 20,000 for berthing charges, harbour dues and agent's fees.
Although the ship has been under arrest since March 12th, the crew have been free to go. But as they have not been paid for nine months they decided to stay on board until the legal wrangle was sorted out.
The Lord Chief Justice, Sir Robert Carswell, ordered the release of the Inessa Armand after he ruled it was owned by the Republic of Ukraine and not the Black Sea Shipping Company (Blasco), which was sued by Hamilton.
The Chief Justice criticised the conduct of the Ukraine government for not standing over Blasco's liabilities or making any attempt to discharge its debts.
"Moreover, the crew have been left to fend for themselves, without pay or provisions, dependent on the goodwill of others," said Sir Robert. "The merits, commercial morality and humanity of this may be deplored."
The crew, which includes three women, have been supplied with food, clothing and toiletries by several seafaring organisations and individuals.
Mr David Knox, port missionary with the Seamen's Christian Friends, was in court and said afterwards: "It has been a great united effort and shows how the organisations and people of the Lough area can rally to the cause.
"At first the crew were devastated but as time went on they were hopeful they would hear word they were going home.
"They will be overjoyed at the court's decision that they are finally free to return to their homes in the Ukraine."