Libyan authorities still holding MV Azzurra

The Maltese-chartered M/V Azzurra, which was expected to leave Tripoli harbour this afternoon, after Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi intervened with the Libyan national transitional council to release the ferry after 16 days under arrest, remains moored to a quay after the harbour master has reportedly refused to hand over ship documents to the Captain. Without these documents, the ship cannot set sail according to international law.

News of its release was confirmed earlier this afternoon by the Maltese agents who over the past two weeks have been trying to release the boat and secure the return of eight-man crew of Turkish and Maltese nationality, but later said that the Tripoli port authorities decided to over-ride the orders given by the NTC.

The hip's contractor Carmelo Dimech told MaltaToday that negotiations between his company and the Libyan embassy in Malta were to start shortly to resolve pending issues concerning the cargo sent to Libya. Dimech said the ship will temporarily run the route to Misurata, instead of Tripoli for the time being.

MaltaToday is reliably informed that the cargo ferry was placed under arrest by Libyan authorities acting on reports by Libyan business giants Husni Bey Group, who claimed the ship was carrying smuggled goods.

Bey alleges in a letter to the NTC that cars with Maltese licence plates vehicles leave the ship and enter Libya "without compliance" avoiding taxes and duties, and "freely distribute their goods to traders and markets."

"Those who profit are Maltese traders and smugglers who have even opened markets and shops in Libya. These goods include some that have almost reached their expiry date, they even involve alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, and some of them might not even be suitable for human consumption and could cause serious harm to the consumer. The history of Malta has seen operations of reprinting best-by dates and committing fraud in this respect."

The letter was copied to the Libyan Chamber of Commerce, the Ports Authority, Police and tax departments, calling on them to "stop any goods from being loaded or unloaded" from the Azzurra, and that the "shipping line be placed under surveillance and call it to account as it has permitted these goods to be brought onto the ship."

The Moldovan-flagged ferry M/V Azzurra is chartered by Maltese company Zammit Group and Turkish company Fergun Shipping, and has been in service since last November, ferrying passengers and goods to Tripoli twice a week.

Dimech has denied smuggling claims by the HB Group: "All the cargo we transported in the past was always let off, so it is ridiculous to hold the ship responsible if somebody imports contraband," the agent said.

Maltese and Libyan businessmen have been using the ferry to transport an estimated €3 million worth of goods every week, which filled most stores around the capital, while trucks and vehicles supplied and stocked warehouses around the Libyan capital.

The Husni Bey group is Libya's largest import-export enterprise and represents most of the major global companies in food, general products, medicines and services.

The same Maltese businessman who spoke to MaltaToday claimed Husni Bey's influence on the Libyan authorities threatens to push other operators out of business. "The Maltese government appears impotent to protect our commercial interests, and the livelihoods of many Maltese whose jobs depend on the exports to Libya, in the wake of the current economic climate in Europe."

Attempts to contact Bey for comments have so far proved futile.