Libertad frigate hearings continue in Hamburg

Argentina’s dispute with Ghana over the detention of the Libertad training frigate in Tema port had its second day of hearings today at the Hamburg-based International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

Hearings were being held throughout the day, with each country presenting its case before the court. The set-up was similar to yesterday- with Argentina presenting in the morning and Ghana in the afternoon.

Argentina’s legal team, represented by Ambassador Susana Ruiz Cerutti, newly expressed the reasons why the case is competent, due to it being “an interpretation” of the Convention of the Sea.

The situation demonstrates “grave ignorance (by Ghana) on international law,” Ruiz Cerutti said.

“The crew is going through a lot tension, with attempts of boarding the ship by force. Also, neither the captain, nor his deputy is able to get off the ship.

“The sailors aren’t sunbathing on the pier like Ghana tries to make out,” Cerutti said.

The Ghanaian authorities detained the Libertad in the port of Tema on October 2 at the request of hedge fund NML Capital Ltd, which says Argentine owes it $300 million in bonds which have been in default since 2002.