Tripoli authorities stop Azzurra from departing over technical ‘bilge pump’ problem

An exasperated Ender Attila, the Turkish chief officer on board the MV Azzurra, has told MaltaToday over the phone that the Tripoli harbour authorities have now halted the Maltese-chartered ferry's departure from the Libyan port, after identifying a "fault" in the vessel's bilge pump.

"We have been told many times... today, tomorrow and so on... but we are still here, and now they are telling me that I have to change my bilge pump," the chief officer said, after harbour officials boarded the ship this morning for the first time in three days.

The Azzurra has now been in Tripoli for over three weeks, held by Libyan authorities over reports of alleged smuggling of illegal and counterfeit goods by the country's most major entrepreneur, Husni Bey.

"My agent here in Tripoli tells me all's ok, but I'm not seeing anything ok because we still have to wait for clearance from many departments, including security, immigration, maritime and others," Attila told MaltaToday. "All my crew is concerned about now is that we leave Libya."

Libyan radio this morning broadcast news about last weekend's talks in Tripoli between foreign minister Tonio Borg and the NTC's deputy prime minister Moustafa Abu Shagam, saying that an "agreement" was reached between the two countries over the MV Azzurra.

The meeting was held after Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi called Libyan counterpart Abdurrahman El-Keib last week, demanding the unconditional release of the ship.

Finance minister Tonio Fenech last night told parliament that "substantial progress" had been made with Libya over the fate of the Maltese-chartered cargo ferry, adding that the Maltese government was making its position, but so was Libya. "Our hope is that the ship is released as soon as possible."

But when asked by former Labour prime minister Alfred Sant to confirm whether it was true that the ferry was carrying smuggled goods - as alleged by Libyan entrepreneur Husni Bey - Fenech said that he wasn't in a position to reply. "I do not have the details of the case. Your question should be made to Minister Borg or the Prime Minister," Fenech said.

The impounding of the Azzurra, which transports an estimated €3 million in goods every week from Malta to Tripoli, is largely believed to have taken place upon reports by entrepreneur Husni Bey, who alleged that the ship could be carrying counterfeit or smuggled goods.

Speaking to MaltaToday last week, Husni Bey said that even European Commissioner John Dalli called him up to talk about the matter, but in a later email to MaltaToday, Bey said he wants Azzurra's contractors to "apologise to the HB Group in writing, otherwise we will go after them at no matter what cost."

Bey claims the goods transported on the Azzurra would have reached their expiry date, and include alcoholic beverages [Bey imports non-alcoholic Becks beer to Libya].

Husni Bey has told MaltaToday it was his "duty as a citizen" to ask Libyan authorities to monitor the trade on the Azzurra ferry. "We reject any form of criminality in our, or your hands, including the smuggling of illicit products and subsidised Libyan diesel and fuel oils."