May 16, 2023
No Comments
The Beirut Port Blast is still shocking the maritime world as fresh reports of Interpol Red Notices for the ship captain that carried the hazardous explosive materials to the port, came to the forefront and now the captain of the ship has revealed what he thinks of the matter.
As per media reports, Boris Prokoshev, the captain of the ship that carried the ammonium nitrate was shocked to hear that Interpol Red Notices have named him and sought to arrest him.
“I am shocked and I do not understand at all what could be the basis for my arrest. I would have understood if we had transported the cargo to Lebanon. We were carrying it to Mozambique, and the Lebanese authorities detained us with the cargo because the shipowner did not pay the port’s fees, but what does the ship’s captain have to do with this matter?” Prokoshev told Reuters.
He alleged that Lebanese authorities didn’t pay any attention to the nitrate cargo.
Earlier last week, Lebanese media had reported that Interpol issued red notices against 3 people involved in the Beirut port blast including the ship captain and owner. Previously it was found that 2750 tonnes of stored ammonium nitrate from the alleged ship detonated causing the blast that killed many in Beirut.
Speaking on the matter, the Vice President of the Seafarers Union of Russia, Igor Kovalchuk, said that “Lebanon’s request for Interpol to arrest two Russian citizens in connection with the explosion is an effort to show its citizens that it is taking steps to identify the perpetrators”.
Reference: middleeastmonitor.com
Background
Boris Prokoshev, the captain of the Russian cargo ship suspected to have carried the 2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate responsible for the tragic event at Beirut, has now confirmed to Radio Free Europe that he used to regularly write to warn against the dangerous chemical stored at the port.
Leading the crew in 2013, Boris was the captain of the ship that had been ordered by the ship’s shady businessman, Igor Grechushkin to pick up an extra cargo that led to the ship taking an unscheduled visit in Beirut…Click here to read the full article
We believe that knowledge is power, and we’re committed to empowering our readers with the information and resources they need to succeed in the merchant navy industry.
Whether you’re looking for advice on career planning, news and analysis, or just want to connect with other aspiring merchant navy applicants, The Marine Learners is the place to be.