Derelict Russian ship adrift in international waters

Transport Canada says it will not pursue the drifting Lyubov Orlova since the cruise ship has officially entered international waters.

A spokesperson saidthe Russian vesselis no longer a threat to the safety of offshore oil platforms, its personnel, or the marine environment.

It is unlikely that itwill re-enter Canadian waters, given the current patterns and predominant winds.

According to Transport Canada, the vessel was spottedapproximately 250 nautical miles east of St. Johns, approximately 50 nautical miles outside Canadas territorial waters.

The fate of the Lyubov Orlovaremains unclear.

Transport Canada said in a release Saturdaynight that they have decided not to pursue the vessel because it would be a safety risk to the Canadian sailors.

The departmentsaidthe owners of the vessel have been made aware of the current status of the ship andthey are responsible for it.

The Lyubov Orlova had been tied up in the St. John's harbour for more than two years before it was towed away last week.

The derelict vessel started drifting toward open water after it snapped its tow line as a tugboat was pulling it to the Dominican Republic for scrap.

The Atlantic Hawk, a supply vessel in the offshore oil industry,managed to take the Orlovaunder tow again last Wednesday.