The Greenpeace icebreaker confiscated by Russia after activists tried to board a Gazprom oil rig has been released. But it could take two months before the Arctic Sunrise leaves Murmansk harbour, according to the campaigning group.



The ship was boarded by the Russian coast guard and towed 500 miles from the Pechora Sea to the northern Russian port of Murmansk in September 2013. Thirty activists, including six Britons, were arrested and accused of hooliganism and piracy.



Although the 30 activists were all released from prison after three months of international protests, the ship remained in port pending a decision by the Russian investigative committee (IC).



According to Greenpeace International lawyers, the committee unexpectedly “annulled the arrest” of the ship on Friday and informed the Amsterdam-based group that the ship could leave.



However, Greenpeace International said it was unlikely that the Arctic Sunrise would be seaworthy for at least a month and possibly more.

“Our main priority now is to get the ship checked by independent surveyors to assess the level of damage since it was seized by Russian agents on 19 September. We will also be asking the Russian authorities to continue guarding the vessel until our crew arrives to take custody of it,” said Daniel Simons, Greenpeace International legal counsel.



Essential navigation gear is also known to have been removed from the ship and is being held separately by the Russian authorities. “It will take at least a month to prepare the ship,” said Maria Favorskaya, a Greenpeace spokeswoman in Moscow.



“Millions of people spoke out against the illegal imprisonment of the Arctic 30, and today the final member of the group is free to come home. Our ship was confiscated during an entirely peaceful protest against Arctic drilling in international waters. There was absolutely no justification either for boarding the ship or keeping it for eight months.



“This whole affair was a brazen attempt to intimidate those who believe that drilling for oil in the melting Arctic is reckless and unsafe. After months without proper maintenance our ship will need careful repairs, but like our campaign to protect the Arctic she will emerge better, fitter and stronger from this.”

