ANKARA - Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim said on Friday that the Ukrainian ship loaded with 19.2 tons of gunpowder was asked to pay 6 billion liras of fine as it didn`t give correct information to Turkish officials.
Responding to questions of journalists about the Ukrainian ship which ran aground near Kilitbahir harbour region of northwestern Canakkale province on Thursday, Yildirim said that the ship was saved. Noting that it was not possible to examine all the ships, as this would paralyze the strait traffic, Yildirim said that all ships had transit passage right under the international agreements. Yildirim said that they got information only about the character of the ship and the load, adding that the Ukrainian ship`s captain informed the officials that the ship was empty. Yildirim said that it was not possible to stop ships to search them except in cases of security reasons.
Yildirim said that in case of security and environmental concerns, it was the right of Turkey to stop and search the ships, adding that nobody claimed ownership for the gunpowder in the ship.
Yildirim stressed that the fines were very low, noting that they started preparations to increase the amount of the fines given to such ships.
(Öª-AY) 05.03.2004