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The Russian tanker Luchegorsk seized by Guinea’s marine police August 21 off Africa’s western coast for allegedly illegally entering its waters, was released on Saturday and departed the port of Conakry to continue its work within the economic zone of Sierra-Leone.

The tanker, owned by Primorye Shipping Company (PRISCO) and chartered by Swiss-based oil company Addax Petroleum to act as a fuel repository, was released due to joint efforts of the owner and its charterer, a press statement from PRISCO said on Monday. Luchegorsk’s crew, consisting of 19 Russian men and one Chinese man, is reported to be in satisfactory condition.
Luchegorsk was seized by a group of armed men when the vessel was operating within the economic zone of Sierra-Leone. The apprehenders claimed Luchegorsk trespassed into Guinea’s territorial waters, and demanded that the captain pay a fine. With the documents taken away from the crew, the vessel was later transported to Conakry.

On August 24 Guinea’s officials ruled that the vessel under command of Captain Yuri Shcherbinkin did not trespass into in the waters of Guinea thus committing no offence toward the country’s national interests.