The following information was obtained in a 6 November 1998 telephone interview with the Director of Navitrans, the Montreal-based shipping agent of the Turkish-owned vessel Pira.

The vessel Pira is owned by a company called Piraziz Shipping AS, which is based in Istanbul, Turkey.

On 14 July 1997 at 21:30 the Pira was fastened alongside Section 19 of the Port of Sorel, Quebec, to discharge steel products. Upon arrival in Sorel the crew list, numbering 30 seamen, was presented to Canadian Customs. On 19 July 1997 at 13:00 the Pira departed from Sorel. At the time of departure, the same crew list, now numbering 28 seamen, was presented to Canadian Customs. Two Turkish-born seamen were reported as deserters to Customs. Navitrans paid the bond for both missing seamen.

The loading port of the Pira was in Diskelesi, Turkey, from where it travelled to Gibraltar, Sorel, Toledo, and Windsor. It took on another load at Thunder Bay and Port Cartier.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Navitrans, Montreal. 6 November 1998. Telephone interview with Director.