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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A cargo ship that has been held two weeks in Alaska amid a federal environmental crimes investigation has been cleared to leave port, a federal prosecutor said Thursday.
The German owners and operator of the 600-foot Lindavia entered into a security agreement and posted a bond Thursday, which will allow the ship to leave the port in Dutch Harbor, probably within a few days, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Feldis said.
When the Lindavia entered Dutch Harbor Feb. 12 to pick up fish for delivery to Asia, the crew notified the Coast Guard that it had suffered damage to some navigation lights and radar systems during storms on its voyage to Alaska from China, Feldis said.
Coast Guard officials noticed the possible environmental crimes when they boarded the ship to check the damage.
Feldis declined to provide details of the alleged crimes because of the ongoing investigation.
He said the crew, which numbers about 20 and includes Filipino and other foreign nationals, was held with the ship while it was detained. As part of the security agreement, a portion of the crew will remain in Alaska while the investigation continues.
Feldis said the German owner of the ships is MS Lindavia Schiffahrts GMBH, the operator is Herm. Dauelsberg GMBH, and the ship is registered in Liberia.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is part of the investigation with the Coast Guard and the U.S. attorney's office in Anchorage.
The ship's detention was first reported by the Alaska Dispatch News.
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