North Korean ship detained in Hong Kong for safety violations cleared to leave

HONG KONG: A newly repaired North Korean ship held in Hong Kong for two months for safety violations has been cleared to leave, but it will leave without its cargo, a port official and the ship’s agent said Thursday.

Marine inspectors detained the Kang Nam 5 in October when they found its lifesaving, communications and emergency lighting equipment to be outdated or insufficient. The ship’s inspection papers and navigational charts were also insufficient.