MURMANSK, October 24 (RIA Novosti) - The captains of the Russian fishing vessels detained Monday by the Norwegian Coast Guards near Spitsbergen will receive instructions on their next move after their holding companies consult with the Russian Foreign Ministry, a top official from one the companies said.
Vladimir Zagovorsky said inquiries into the situation were sent Monday night to the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Norway.
He said the two ships are currently anchored off Medvezhy Island and are waiting for instructions from the owner companies, which will be sent only after the consultations with diplomats.
The Dmitry Pokramovich and Kapitan Gorbachev ships owned respectively by the Arkhangelsk trawl fleet and the Murmansk fishing fleet, were detained after the Russian sailors failed to notify Norway about their plans to enter the Medvezhy Island 12-mile zone, a process Norway requires for venturing into the zone's waters.