| Ecuador & Panama. Details emerge about arrest of megayacht Constellation over Galapagos activities |
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; "Constellation Courtesy www.yachtspotter.com")
| Monday, 10 July 2006 | |
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Marian Martin More details have emerged concerning the arrest of the 88.5 metre Cassens built superyacht Constellation, in connection with illegal underwater activities in the Galapagos archipelago. According to Edwin Naula, who is responsible for tourist activities in the Galapagos National Park, the yacht had been given a permit to use its launches and undertake snorkelling activities in the area. The use of any other form of underwater gear was expressly forbidden and, on June 24, in accordance with requirements for foreign flagged vessels, the Constellation took on board two qualified guides - Miguel Mosquera and Alexis Navia Mosquera – whose duty was to ensure that all Park regulations were adhered to. On June 29, the yacht was joined, off Floreana Island, by the Cebaco Bay, which was carrying a mini-submarine that had been hired from British company Silver Crest Submarines and flown from the UK to the USA and then on to Panama, where it was hoisted on board the Cebaco Bay and taken to the archipelago. Jacobo Buckridge, captain of the Cebaco Bay, and Alan Whitfield, captain of the mini-submarine, have confirmed that, shortly after their arrival, four of the twenty four Russians that had chartered the Constellation were taken down in the submarine. According to Buckridge, once these four Russians had been taken down, they were told that they should return to Panama, but all the vessels involved were still there next day, when the Ecuadorian Navy’s coastguard vessel 6 de Diciembre arrived on the scene. Jorge Gross, commander of the second naval zone, says that having found that the Cebaco Bay did not comply with Ecuador’s requirements for the entry of foreign flagged vessels and on the admission of the crew that the submarine had been used, the 6 de Diciembre arrested the crew and seized the Cebaco Bay and the mini-submarine. The Cebaco Bay, with the submarine on board, remain anchored in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, off the island of San Cristóbal, in the custody of the maritime authorities. Both Buckridge and Whitfield insist that they had been informed that all necessary permission had been obtained by the Constellation and that the companies that employ them could well take legal action against the Constellation’s agent. The Panamanian authorities share the view that the responsibility lies with the operators of the megayacht and have arrested the vessel in the Panama Canal and asked Ecuador to release its citizens. Buckridge has been sentenced to 90 days imprisonment and the rest of the Cebaco Bay crew to 30 days. |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 10 July 2006 ) |
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