Bilag 5
From:
Propper, Bart <[email protected]>
Sent:
09 March 2021 19:10
To:
Pedro da Silva Jørgensen <[email protected]>
Cc:
Sigurd Nissen-Petersen <[email protected]>; Susanne Birgitte Pedersen <[email protected]>
Subject:
russian tugs
Dear Pedro,
Please find below a summary of todays events around the arrest of crew from the vessels Conwenna and
Trewenna.
The crew of Conwenna
and Trewenna were arrested and accused of working without workpermits, despite
the fact these two internationally
flagged
vessels are in full compliance with MLC and international
regulations.
Conwenna tug arrived in Rødbyhavn on 5
November 2020. On arrival the vessel was subjected to a Port
State Control inspection on 12-11-2020, no immigration issues were observed.
And the Trewenna
arrived in Rodbyhavn on 11
November 2020. On arrival the vessel was subjected to a
Port State Control inspection on 17-11-2020, during which also no immigration issues were observed.
Since their arrival in Denmark, the vessels have had several crew changes with on-and off-signing
crewmembers entering/leaving Denmark via Copenhagen airport and travelling by road to Rødbyhavn to
embark the vessel as would be the case for any international seafarer traveling to and from their respective
vessels.
On 09 March 2021 Rødbyhavn police visited FBC’s offices and informed FBC as follows:
1. Further to visits to FBC in December 2020 and January 2021 during which FBC informed the police
that the vessels’ crew are in compliance with international standards for seafarers, Rødbyhavn
police contacted SIRI (Danish Immigration) and is of the opinion that the crewmembers are working
on the Danish continental shelf and therefore need work permits. Today the police will arrest all
crewmembers on the bases of working illegally in Denmark.
2. Each crewmember will be fined (an undefined amount). If they refuse to pay, they will be
summoned to appear in Danish court on 22 June 2021. If they agree to pay, this will be an
admittance of guilt, no court case will be held and they will be banned from entering Denmark for 2
years.
3. The department of foreign affairs has been informed
4. Ultimately, it is expected that the crewmembers will be released back to the vessels after above
steps have been completed and will be deported.
The crew members of both vessels have been transported in groups of up to six persons from the vessel to
the police station, where they have been interrogated by police with the aid of an interpreter but without
legal representation.
At 13.00 hrs the vessel owner was informed that the crew of Trewenna had all disembarked the vessel with
the exception of 2 crewmembers, neither being the vessel’s Master. Subsequently customs officers
boarded the vessel (being considered Russian territory) unbeknownst to the vessel Master and it is unclear
what activities they are conducting on the vessel.