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Arrested Chinese cargo ship will depart Happy-Valley Goose Bay following settlement

The Federal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Qian Kun and ordered it to remain in Happy Valley-Goose Bay Thursday. A settlement between the ships owners and St. John's contractor Miller Shipping was reached Friday. (Regan Burden/CBC - image credit)
The Federal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Qian Kun and ordered it to remain in Happy Valley-Goose Bay Thursday. A settlement between the ships owners and St. John's contractor Miller Shipping was reached Friday. (Regan Burden/CBC - image credit)
Regan Burden/CBC
Regan Burden/CBC

A Chinese cargo ship docked in Happy Valley-Goose Bay that was arrested and barred from leaving port Thursday will depart Saturday following a settlement between the ship's owners and a St. John's marine contractor.

The Federal Court issued an arrest warrant Thursday for the Qian Kun, a cargo vessel registered in Shanghai. It was tasked with transporting wood cut from the Muskrat Falls construction site to Asia.

The warrant was filed in Halifax after Miller Shipping, a marine contractor based in St. John's, alleged in a statement of claim it was not fully paid for its work, with more than $255,000 outstanding for services it provided.

In the court documents, Miller Shipping says it provided loading, stevedoring and other services needed to transfer the wood onto the Qian Kun around Nov. 22.

Miller Shipping said it issued five invoices to J.P. Forestry — a wood supplier from Corner Brook — between Nov. 8 and Nov. 25 ranging from about $9,000 to $140,000 for rigging equipment, rentals, two work crews, a surveyor travel and meals.

The company says J.P. Forestry made one payment for $90,000 on Nov. 19, but despite repeated demands, Miller Shipping claims, the remainder of the money hasn't been paid. The outstanding total is $255,089.50.

Chipolbrok Sun Maritime, owners of the Qian Kun are also named in the warrant.

Late Friday evening, Miller Shipping owner Pat Miller told CBC News an agreement of payment in full had been reached and the ship will be released.

J.P. Forestry had previously reached an agreement with the Innu Nation to sell timber left over from the Muskrat Falls construction site.

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