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Ocean Alert free to leave |
gibfocus - 17th July 2007
(2007-07-17 08:00:00 )
Although the Odyssey Marine Exploration vessel had as yet not left yesterday evening, Spanish official sources have indicated that the vessel is free to leave when it wants.
The news came after the completion of a search and detention of the vessel last week which has led to complaints over the way the Spanish authorities ordered the vessel into port whilst in international waters.
Whilst Spain claims that the actions took place within their territorial waters, the US company and British Government have made formal representations claiming that the operation was conducted in international waters.
The vessel is expected to leave today from the port of Algeciras. Spanish reports claim that the British Government has asked the US company to also, voluntarily, send the Odyssey Explorer, its other vessel, to be inspected. However, there are no official indictations that this request has as yet been made, although it is expected that the Spanish authorities could also detain the Explorer as it leave Gibraltar.
Andalucian Government representative Juan Jos? L?pez Garz?n, yesterday claimed that the search of the Alert had not resulted in any significant changes. Adding that the investigation was still ongoing and the case was still open.
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