Russian "Tulun" vessel heading for Vladivostok port

The Russian "Tulun" vessel is heading for the port of Vladivostok where it was scheduled to arrive Thursday night Far Eastern Time, Head of the press-service of the Russian State Fisheries Committee Natalia Akafyeva said in the interview with RIA Novosti.

She confirmed the information of the Federal Frontier Service that there had been no takeover of the vessel by armed assailants. At the same time Akafyeva reported that, according to the "Tulun" captain, unidentified people from another ship had actually attempted to get to the refrigerator.

The "Tulun" captain claims that the takeover failed because his vessel managed a maneuver and escaped "a contact" with the uninvited guests, Akafyeva said. The refrigerator captain also claims that the attempt to assault the ship "was not an act of terrorism or piracy." The spokesman for the Russian State Fisheries Committee said that all the details of the "Tulun" incident will be clarified on the ship's arrival in Vladivostok.

On Tuesday, November 19, the Pusan port sea police reported to the General Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Vladivostok that 30 miles east of Pusan armed people had taken over a transport refrigerator "Tulun." On receiving the information on the ship's takeover the Russian State Fisheries Committee set up an operative headquarters and at night on November 19 managed to establish a stable connection with the "Tulun" captain, Vladimir Chuprov.