INDUSTRIALCHALLENGER

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Latest news

Ocean Atlas cleared to sail after charges were dropped

The "Ocean Atlas" has been cleared to sail in the next two days. The ship has been docked at Maracaibo since August 29. The U.S. State Department confirmed the charges for the captain and the 14 crew memberswere dropped after Venezuelan authorities detained the ship and its crew for alleged arms trafficking. The ship was expected to set sail on Sep 10 or 11.

Ocean Atlas crew to be interviewed next week, ship to be moved to anchorage

Crew members on a U.S.-flagged ship learned Friday, September 7, 2012 that their questioning by Venezuelan investigators in an arms trafficking probe has been delayed until Monday. Venezuelan authorities have held the ship in Maracaibo since August 29, and took its captain into custody on Wednesday. Divers and drug investigators are still inspecting the ship, and the captain is expected to be returned to move the ship from the docks to an anchorage in Maracaibo Bay on Saturday morning, the manager said Friday night. Further infos at CNN http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/07/world/americas/venezuela-us-ship/index.html

Ship detained after rifles were found aboard

Venezuelan authorities have arrested the American captain of the "Ocean Atlas" after finding three rifles on boardafter it entered Maracaibo port on Aug 30, 2012. The captain was detained a few days ago, howe ver, it was unclear if charges were being pressed against the captain. The captain and 14 crew members, who remained on the vessel, were American citizens. The rifles were listed on the ship's manifest, but it was unclear whether their presence violated any local law.