Timber mystery ship the MV Arctic Sea has finally been returned to its Maltese owners more than two months after it was found after an apparent hijacking.
Russian naval forces handed the vessel over to the owners and it is now berthed in Valletta’s Grand Harbour.
Maltese authorities carried out radiation checks on the ship before allowing it to dock. The precaution follows press speculation that the vessel may have been hiding weapons bound for Iran.
The Arctic Sea is believed to still be carrying its consignment of 6,700m³ of timber from Finland. The timber, valued at €1.3m was originally bound for the Algerian construction trade when masked men allegedly seized control in Swedish waters, prompting a massive sea-hunt by the Russian Navy because the crew were Russians.
Russia has charged eight men with piracy and kidnapping in connection with the disappearance.
