20 August 2010, 21:00
Turkish ship cannot leave Abkhazia for almost two months
The Turkish cargo ship named "Dafne", which arrived to Sukhumi Bay under the guise of Sierra Leone, is for almost two months already drifting in the territorial waters of Abkhazia because of malfunctions of the ship and absence of fuel.
The ship brought its cargo to Abkhazia back in early July. Its crew has 10 members: four citizens of Syria (command staff), five citizens of Turkey and one citizen of Azerbaijan.
According to Salekh Babayev, a crew member, the ship is in emergency condition: it has a big hole in its foreship, received at mooring in Pitsunda, no fuel and electricity and a broken engine. To reach the nearest Turkish port it needs at least 10 tons of fuel and 200 litres of hydraulic oil.
Today, the Turkish ship was visited by heads of the State Department of Abkhazia for Transports and Communications, representatives of the Abkhazian Shipping Company and State Security Service. The members of crew complained that the managers of the Turkish company - the ship owner - cannot be contacted and failed to render the earlier promised help.
Food and water are brought to the ship by employees of the Abkhazian Sea Shipping Company and ordinary citizens.
Author: Angela Kuchuberia Source: CK correspondent
