Margarita Island News

Venezuela has agreed to free a U.S.-chartered oil survey ship and 36 crew members seized last week in a territorial dispute with neighboring Guyana, reports Reuters, citing the vessel's owner. Venezuela accused the Teknik Perdana of violating its maritime territory, reviving a century-old dispute with Guyana, as the vessel carried out a seabed survey for Texas-based Anadarko in conjunction with Guyanese authorities, when Venezuela's navy boarded it on Thursday and escorted it to Margarita Island. However, Reuters add that according to the Venezuela Public Prosecutor's Office the ship's Ukrainian captain, Igor Bekirov, had been charged at Margarita with failing to respect the boundaries of a security zone.

The 285-ft U.S.-chartered oil exploration ship 'Teknik Perdana' seized by the Venezuelan navy in Caribbean waters disputed with neighbouring Guyana was escorted into port at Venezuela's Margarita Island on Sunday, reports AP. Quoting Venezuelan authorities, AP said the ship's 36 crew members, including five U.S. citizens and two Brazilians, would be held on board while an investigation continued. AP note that Adm. Angel Belisario Martinez told local station Union Radio that the research ship was conducting unauthorized scientific work in Venezuela's exclusive economic zone and the case had been turned over to prosecutors. Source: The Associated Press

1997- The crew of the CGC Baranof confiscated two .50-caliber sniper rifles, ammunition and other military supplies that were allegedly to be used in an assassination attempt against Cuban President Fidel Castro. Four Cuban exiles were arrested for illegal possession of firearms after the 46-foot La Esperanza was ordered into Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, by the Baranof. There a search of the vessel turned up the weapons. One suspect confessed that the sniper rifles were to be used to assassinate Castro on his arrival on Venezuela's Margarita Island for the Ibero-American Summit Conference. A magistrate in the U.S. District Court in San Juan later dismissed the charge of conspiracy to assassinate Castro but let the charges of illegal importation of firearms and making false statements stand.

Ferry services to Venezuela's Margarita Island will be further revolutionised with the delivery of a second 86m vehicle/passenger catamaran to Conferry. Built in Western Australia by Austal Ships, "Lilia Concepcion" will join a fleet that already includes a similar Austal fast ferry, "Carmen Ernestina", delivered in 1999. Austal's Managing Director, Mr Bob McKinnon said, "Every delivery is a special occasion for Austal, but the fact that Conferry has returned to us for this second vessel makes this delivery especially satisfying. "A repeat order from such an experienced and reputable operator is a tremendous vote of confidence in Austal and the ships we build," Mr McKinnon said.

The delivery voyage of the 282 ft. vehicle-passenger ferry Lilia Concepcion built by Austal Ships included a number of highlights, including a Panama Canal first, a new distance record and a circumnavigation with a difference. Capable of carrying 828 passengers and 243 cars, the catamaran is the second of its type Austal has delivered to leading Venezuelan operator Conferry, the first being “Carmen Ernestina” delivered in 1999. Both vessels were built at the Austal shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia and operate services to the same port on Margarita Island, a popular holiday destination. To say that Lilia Concepcion ‘followed in the wake’ of Conferry’s first Auto Express 86 is not strictly true however.