MADRID, September 15 (RIA Novosti) - The Finnish-operated Arctic Sea cargo vessel, which is on its way back to Russia after being hijacked in late July, is to call at the port of Las Palmas, a Spanish marine spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The Maltese-flagged and Russian-crewed vessel, officially carrying lumber from Russia to Algeria, was reportedly boarded by a group of eight men on July 24 and mysteriously disappeared in the Atlantic. It was discovered off Cape Verde on August 16 by a Russian warship and is currently being towed to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk.
The spokesperson said the Russian embassy in Madrid had requested and received permission for the Arctic Sea, which is being towed by a tug under the escort of a warship, to call at a local port, adding that the convoy was 14 miles off the coast and should arrive closer to evening.
He also said the Arctic Sea was likely to require repair work, some of which could be carried out at the port.
Russian and international media has speculated that the ship could have been involved in a state-sponsored arms trafficking operation, including suggestions that Russia attempted to deliver missiles for S-300 air defense systems to Iran or Syria.
Russian investigators said last Tuesday, however, that a thorough search of the Arctic Sea had been conducted, and that only lumber registered in the ship's cargo log had been found.
Russian defense officials earlier said that the Arctic Sea will subsequently be handed over to Malta, after which the Ladny frigate will return to its Black Sea Fleet base in Sevastopol, the Crimea.
