Updated | MV Azzurra finally back in Malta

Updated at 2:30pm with comments from Captain Engin Ozbek and the ferry's operators Zammit Group

The Maltese-chartered cargo ferry MV Azzurra has returned to Valletta's Grand Harbour after it was prevented from shipping out of Tripoli harbour over smuggling allegations.

The shipping agents of the MV Azzurra, that had  been kept under arrest for 24 days, expressed satisfaction for the end of the ship and its Maltese and Turkish crew's ordeal

The Azzurra was held by Libyan authorities over reports of alleged smuggling of illegal and counterfeit goods by the country's most major entrepreneur, Husni Bey.

Karm Borg, the financial controller of Zammit Group, the ferry's charterers, described the Azzurra saga as a "bad experience" which he hopes the company will not experience again and said that the ferry was detained for unknown reasons.

"It was a difficult situation for the company. The ferry is just a carrier of goods, so we have no fault. The Libyan authorities in fact searched the ferry and nothing illegal was found," Borg said.

He added that Zammit Group suffered heavy losses while the ferry was detained for 24 days in  Tripoli. Borg however explained that the Maltese economy was also dealt a blow as the ferry carries up to  €2.5 million in goods on each trip to Libya and this generates around €500,000 in value added for Maltese companies.

Borg thanked the Maltese government for its efforts to resolve the situation and said "hopefully we will be able to sail again as from tomorrow." He explained that the group is planning to run two weekly trips in the near future, one to Tripoli and the other to Misurata.

Asked whether the group is planning to change the monitoring of goods transported on the Azzurra, Borg said "We will abide by the rules as we have always done. The goods go through the customs control in both countries and if we are asked to make any changes we have no objection and we will cooperate as we have always done."

Borg chose not to comment when asked whether the issue was political, however he said "the relationship between the two countries is good and I hope the Libyan authorities recognise the role Malta played during the Libyan conflict last year."

On his part, the ferry's captain, Engin Ozbek said he was relieved that the ordeal is over and explained how the Libyan authorities interrogated him and the ferry's chief for two days while the ferry was detained in Tripoli.

Ozbek said the crew had been treated fairly and where even allowed to leave the ship and visit the city centre. Asked to explain what the crew went through throughout the saga, Ozbek said that the crew was busy carrying out maintenance work while at port.

The 30 year-old Turkish national said he is looking forward to returning back home to his wife since his contract with Azzurra has come to an end.

Contacts between the Maltese and Libyan governments were held over the past three weeks, with foreign minister Tonio Borg flying for talks over the weekend with the NTC's deputy prime minister Moustafa Abu Shagam, over an "agreement" to have the Azzurra leave.

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.

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 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."

Attempts to pacify Libya's most prominent of entrepreneurs were even made by John Dalli, the European Commissioner, who has held strong interests in Libya.