Two Russian ships arrested in Shanghai released.

16/9 Tass 107

MOSCOW, September 16 (Itar-Tass) - The ships of the Artic shipping
company - Professor Voskresensky and Vasily Yan, which the Chinese
government detained for the unpaid repairs in September 2008, were
released, chairman of the Far Eastern regional branch of the Russian naval
trade union Nikolai Sukhanov told live on the Vesti news TV channel on
Wednesday.

"By the end of this week, probably by Friday, the Professor
Voskresensky will leave Shanghai for the ports of Russia. The Vasily Yan
will be sold for metal scrap. The necessary documents will be also
processed in the next few days, and the crew will be able to repatriate
successfully to Russia at the expense of the ship's owner," Sukhanov said.
"The repairs was paid in full, and the Chinese side already has no claims.
We believe that everything will end successfully by the end of the week,"
he added.
"The ship has the stock of food and fuel. Meanwhile, the salary was
paid up to August 1. At a meeting in the city executive committee on the
work of the Nakhodka branch of the Arctic shipping company the ship owner
said the debt of all 16 ships (of the Artic shipping company) will have
been repaid by the end of September," Sukhanov noted. "Presently the
investigation into the incident is underway. The East Siberian transport
prosecutor's office is working in Nakhodka and Vladivostok," he said.
-0-baz/gor