Crazed Mariner Detained

Portuguese Navy officials arrested a crewman aboard the Liberian-flagged M/V Celine after receiving reports that the mariner brandished an axe and threatened to set fire to the wood pulp the vessel was transporting to North Africa’s Ceuta port.

The Special Forces unit received distress signals from the 4,757 dwt cargo ship about 50 nautical miles west of Setubal. Officials are not sure what angered the mariner but he had a falling out with his crewmembers early in the voyage. The crewmembers took refuge in the ship’s bridge while awaiting rescue.

The Celine was built in 2011 and is owned by Turkey’s Vento Deniz Isletmeleri. The ship owner has decided not to press charges and the mariner is being repatriated to Turkey.