Russian coastal guard arrests 8 ships, fines 4

Maritime guards of Russia's Federal Frontier Service have arrested eight foreign vessels and fined four since the year started, reports the service press centre. All were trespassing Russian environment protection laws.

The Vagabond, a French yacht, was arrested in the Kola Gulf today after it failed to notify the frontier service about entrance of the Russian territorial waters. The vessel was taken to the Murmansk port, Russia's northwest, for investigation.

Two South Korean fishing schooners, the Choon-yeng 32 and the Choon-yeng 33, were shrugging off inspection rules. The Pacific board of the Federal Frontier Service fined each 50,000 roubles, roughly US$1,700.