Seized Greenpeace Icebreaker Departs Russia

Arctic Sunrise
 
The Russian authorities detained the vessel with 30 activists and journalists on board in September 2013 after the protest at the Gazprom-owned Prirazlomnaya oil rig.
The detained group, which was later dubbed the Arctic 30 was charged with piracy, and was facing 7 years of prison, however; Russia dropped the charges in December.
Once released, the vessel was found in a pretty bad shape, and it took the crew three weeks to make it seaworthy.
The MV Arctic Sunrise has departed the port city of Murmansk and is bound for Amsterdam, as informed by Greenpeace on Friday.
Greenpeace is suing Russia before the European Court of Human Rights for breaching their right to freedom of expression and illegal detention of its activists.

World Maritime News Staff, August 3, 2014; Image: Greenpeace