Detained ship subject to UN asset freeze – Coast Guard

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard has served a notice of asset freeze to the captain and crew of detained North Korean cargo ship M/V Jin Teng.

Lt. Cdr. Jonathan Marfil, Subic PCG station commander, said the ship captain did not object when informed of the freeze Tuesday as provided by a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution.

A panel of experts earlier cited Resolution 1718, which directs all UN members to freeze, if found within their territories, the funds, assets and economic resources that might be used for the weapons program of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The PCG impounded the ship after the UNSC imposed fresh sanctions against North Korea following a nuclear test on Jan. 6 and a rocket launch on Feb. 7 – events that allegedly disregarded the council’s resolutions banning the nuclear weapons programs.

Authorities, according to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), found nothing irregular in the ship, which unloaded palm kernels last week.

Randy Escolango, SBMA deputy administrator for legal affairs, said the agency has no legal reason to detain or impound the 4,355-ton ship and that “as part of the regular process, we would release the ship.”

He added that the ship already paid port fees and obtained clearances from the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration and was also issued a quarantine clearance.

However, Marfil said the notice directs M/V Jin Teng “not to leave Subic Bay” and that PCG vessel Pampanga was dispatched to watch the Korean cargo ship.