BUENOS AIRES — Argentina will ask a UN court to order the release of a navy sailing ship seized in Ghana unless the African country releases today, officials announced.
The ARA Libertad training ship was seized on Oct. 2 in the port of Tema as collateral for unpaid bonds dating from Argentina’s economic crisis a decade ago. Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said if Ghana does not free the vessel by today, Argentina will appeal to the International Sea Tribunal in Hamburg, Germany.
Argentina argues that as a warship, the Libertad is immune from being seized and it says it will take the issue to the court under a UN convention on the rights of the sea.
Ghana courts seized the ship on a claim by NML Capital Ltd. Its owner, billionaire investor Paul Singer, leads a group demanding payment in full, plus interest, for dollar-based Argentine bonds bought at fire sale prices.