1.
MV SHIP
0.05

2.
CU NAME ANCHISES
0.08

3.
CU MEMBERS OF CREW TO MV SHIP
0.13

4.
MV SECOND OFFICER AND WIFE LEAVING SHIP
0.19

5.
MV BRITISH FLAG PAN DOWN STERN OF SHIP
0.24

6.
CU SECOND OFFICER BEING INTERVIEWED PAN TO WIFE
0.29

7.
CU CAPTAIN BEING INTERVIEWED (2 SHOTS)
0.35

8.
LV CAPTAIN AND OTHER GOING ABOARD
0.40

9.
MV REPORTERS PAN TO MANAGING DIRECTOR FIRST OFFICER, CHIEF ENGINEER, AND CAPTAIN BEING INTERVIEWED
0.49

10.
MV GROUP
0.54

11.
MV SHIP
0.57



Initials AF/VS/GT/BJ



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE CREW OF THE BRITISH FREIGHTER 'ANCHISES' DETAINED BY CHINESE TROOPS IN SHANGHAI, GAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY (MARCH 13) AFTER THEIR VESSEL ARRIVED IN SINGAPORE.

THE 5,528-TON ANCHISES WAS ALLOWED TO LEAVE CHINA ON MARCH 6 WITHOUT ITS CAPTAIN, MR. JAMES RAY, DETAINED FOR ALLEGEDLY BREAKING HARBOUR REGULATIONS IN SHANGHAI. THE VESSEL SAILED INTO SINGAPORE ON THURSDAY (MARCH 12) WITH A COMPLEMENT OF FIFTY, INCLUDING ONE WOMAN PASSENGER -- THE WIFE OF A SHIP'S OFFICER.

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THE FOLLOWING DAY (FRIDAY), THE SHIP'S OFFICERS SPOKE ABOUT THE "MYSTIFYING CIRCUMSTANCES" BEHIND CAPTAIN RAY'S ARREST. CHIEF OFFICER JOHN BRUNSKILL, WHO TOOK COMMAND OF THE ANCHISES AFTER ITS RELEASE, SAID THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE CAPTAIN'S DETENTION.

FIVE DAYS AFTER CAPTAIN RAY WAS LED AWAY BY CHINESE SOLDIERS, ABOUT ONE HUNDRED TROOPS BOARDED THE ANCHISES AND SUBJECTED THE SHIP'S OFFICERS AND CREW TO A FOUR-HOUR INTERROGATION, BRUNSKILL ADDED. BUT THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL HARASSMENT.

CAPTAIN STANLEY ARNOLD HAS ARRIVED IN SINGAPORE FROM BRITAIN TO TAKE COMMAND OF THE FREIGHTER. HE TOLD THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THE SHIP'S CREW WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HELP OBTAIN THE RELEASE OF CAPTAIN RAY AND DID NOT WANT TO MAKE INFLAMMATORY STATEMENTS WHICH NIGHT JEOPARDISE IT.

MEANWHILE, ANOTHER BRITISH CARGO SHIP, 'GLENFALLOOH, SAILED OUT OF SHANGHAI HARBOUR ON FRIDAY WITHOUT ITS SECOND OFFICER, WHO WAS ALSO ACCUSED BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES OF BREAKING HARBOUR REGULATIONS. HE IS MR. PATRICK DUFF, AGED 29.

SYNOPSIS: THE BRITISH CARGO SHIP 'ANCHISES' - RELEASED FROM SHANGHAI ON MARCH 6 AFTER ITS CAPTAIN HAD BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY BREAKING HARBOUR REGULATIONS. THE ANCHISES ARRIVED IN SINGAPORE THURSDAY (MARCH 12) WITH A COMPLEMENT OF FIFTY, INCLUDING ONE WOMAN PASSENGER -- THE WIFE OF A SHIP'S OFFICER. AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THE FOLLOWING DAY THE CREW TALKED ABOUT THE ARREST OF THEIR CAPTAIN, MR. JAMES RAY, THEY SAID THERE WAS NO REASON FOR HIS DETENTION.

MEANWHILE, CAPTAIN STANLEY ARNOLD HAS ARRIVED IN SINGAPORE TO TAKE COMMAND OF THE ANCHISES. HE TOLD REPORTERS THAT THE SHIP'S CREW DID NOT WANT TO MAKE INFLAMMATORY STATEMENTS THAT MIGHT JEOPARDISE CAPTAIN RAY'S RELEASE. ANOTHER OFFICER SAID ABOUT ONE HUNDRED CHINESE TROOPS HAD BOARDED THE VESSEL AND SUBJECTED EVERYONE ON BOARD TO A FOUR-HOUR INTERROGATION. BUT THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL HARASSMENT.