Russian authorities have seized a Vanuatu-registered trawler that skipped New Zealand last month owing more than $600,000.
The Ascold, which unexpectedly sailed out of New Zealand waters with a 70-tonne catch of hoki on July 22 and failed to answer radio calls, was detained this week at the Russian port of Vanino, north of Vladivostok.
Inquiries last week revealed that the Vanuatu-registered trawler, owned by a Seattle-based company Pacific Marine run by two Russian businessmen, had turned up at anchor outside a Russian Far Eastern port.
Ministry of Fisheries spokesman Alan Meek said yesterday that the vessel was seized and detained in Vanino by officers of the Pacific regional directorate of the Russian Federal Border Service.
Ministry investigations into the Ascold's departure from New Zealand were continuing with the help of Russian authorities, Mr Meek said.
The ministry had no information about the crew or the Ascold's catch of hoki. Whether the fish, caught under contract to Christchurch-based United Fisheries, had been offloaded at a foreign port would be a factor in the investigation.
Mr Meek said the ministry would work with the New Zealand companies that reported they were owed substantial amounts by Pacific Marine.
Lyttelton-based Stark Bros, a boat-building and ship repair company, is owed for marine engineering repairs on the Ascold.
The trawler's Christchurch agent, Far-Fish (Dalryba) NZ, said the Ascold left owing the company about $300,000.
It also had outstanding debts of at least $300,000 to other New Zealand companies.
Mr Meek said the ministry could seek to take action against the Ascold for leaving New Zealand waters illegally and landing its catch outside New Zealand.
"First of all, through the investigation, we have to establish charges. It's obviously quite a complicated business."
- NZPA
Russia holds ship with big NZ debts
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