The ARA Libertad, a tall sailing ship with a crew of more than 330, was detained in Ghana’s eastern port of Tema on October 2 on a court order obtained by NML Capital Ltd, which claims Argentina owes it $300 million from defaulted bonds.
The cadets boarded a chartered Air France flight in Ghana’s capital Accra bound for Buenos Aires, taking off after a four-hour delay, according to a Reuters witness.
A statement posted on the website of Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez said they will arrive home on Wednesday evening and would return to training on November 5 following medical checks.
“When they return from their break, the midshipmen will resume training that will allow them to meet the objectives necessary to graduate as planned on December 8,” the statement read.
A skeleton crew required for the essential maintenance of the ship remained behind.
Argentina’s Foreign Minister Hector Timerman launched a diplomatic offensive in New York on Monday, urging top United Nations officials to pressure Ghana to release the ship.