Russia’s Nikolai Kasatkin ship was detained in Amsterdam due to "technical malfunctions," a spokesman for the Russian embassy in the Netherlands said on Dec. 2.
According to the spokesman, the ship was detained at the port of Amsterdam on Nov. 11. Immediately after the detention, officers of the Russian embassy’s consular department and a representative of the Russian ministry of transport established contact with the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). "According to information provided by this organization the ship will continue its mission after technical malfunctions are corrected," the spokesman said.
A source in the port of Amsterdam told TASS the Russian vessel had been barred from leaving the port but did not specify why, recommending instead to contact the authority which had issued the document, i.e. the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). TASS referred an inquiry to the inspectorate but have received no reply so far.
According to the Russian embassy while the ship was staying at the port of Amsterdam its crew went on strike demanding payment of delayed wages. As a matter of fact, it is a labor dispute between the seamen and the Parus company, which has nothing to do with the ship’s detention, the embassy spokesman noted. "The Dutch authorities have conducted no inspections concerning the observance of Russian labor laws in respect of the crew and could not do it," the spokesman said. "So, the incident cannot be seen as a violation of the rights and legal interests of Russian citizens by the Dutch authorities."
Source: TASS