Danish lawyers are optimistic about Dunkan's lifting

Danish lawyers are optimistic about the prospects of lifting the Russian Dunkan steamer which sank near the Danish coast in late July, said Valentin Syromiatnikov, the ship's captain, in an interview with RIA Novosti.

According to him, lawyers of the Swizer firm, which transported the Dunkan when it sank, diver Knut Trope who headed the underwater works on the steamer, and representatives of the Danish Culture Ministry who met on Tuesday decided to collect documents to be submitted to court.

Swizer's lawyers proposed to suit against the three ships, which refused to help the Dunkan when she was in distress near the Danish coast. According to Syromiatnikov, these ships belonged to the Territorial waters Department, which threatens to blow up the steamer if she is not removed until November 15. The captain believes a lawsuit will tear up the vicious circle.

In reply to the question about possible insurance payments for the wrecked Dunkan, Syromiatnikov said that she had been insured "for a minimum sum" in a Russian insurance company, insured not against wreck, but against a clash or environmental pollution which an emergency could entail.

He specified that even if he were to put in a claim for payment, it was "a matter of future".