Captain of Venezuelan-linked oil tanker captured by US forces has left Scottish waters, court hears

The Marinera, a Russian-flagged vessel previously known as Bella 1 has been in UK waters in the Moray Firth in recent days after being seized as it travelled through the waters between Iceland and Scotland.

Lawyers acting for Natia Dzadzama, wife of the vessel’s captain Avtandil Kalandadze, on Monday lodged a petition with the Court of Session in Edinburgh seeking an emergency order to prevent the ship and those on board being removed from the jurisdiction of the Scottish court.

In a late night hearing on Monday Lord Young granted an interim interdict prohibiting the Advocate General for Scotland, the Lord Advocate and The Scottish Ministers – or anyone acting on their behalf, from removing the captain and the crew of the Marinera from the territorial jurisdiction of the court.

However at a hearing on Monday Lord Young recalled the order, having heard that the captain and first officer have already left UK waters.

Solicitor General Ruth Charteris KC, representing the Lord Advocate and Scottish Ministers, told the court: “The captain and the first officer are now aboard the US Coastguard vessel Munro and have departed the United Kingdom’s territorial sea.

“This was thought to be the position last night although I entirely appreciate the information before your Lordship was not certain, however we received an email from the Department of Justice at 3.04 this morning confirming that that is absolutely the position so in short they are no longer within the territorial jurisdiction of this court.”