Stranded cruise ship freed

RIGA- Latvian Defense Minister Vinets Veldre cancelledthe order issued to Latvian navy forces to arrest the cruise ship Mona Lisathat was freed from the sandbank on Wednesday afternoon.

Veldre told BNS that he hascontacted the head of the crisis management council and Latvian Prime MinisterIvars Godmanis, who informed the minister, that the letter of credit from theUS and British insurers of the ship had been received. The Border Guardinformed Veldre that all inspection procedures on the ship were completed.

The cruise ship Mona Lisa was then allowed to leave Latvia.

Earlier Veldre said during a phone interview that the ship was forbiddenfrom leaving the port of Ventspils,as there was an order issued forbidding the departure of the ship until paymentfor all costs covering the rescue operation had been received.

The total cost is estimated at 135,000 lats (192,088 EUR)