MOSCOW, February 9 - RAPSI. A federal commercial court will hear on March 19 the Finance Ministry's appeal against the dismissal of its $443 million claim against a fishing company, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com).

The ministry sought from the Murmansk Trawler Fleet unjust enrichment for operating six fishing ships purchased for the fleet at the federal budget's expense. The amount was determined on the basis of the fish caught over the ships' nine years of operation, which the ministry deems unlawful.

The ministry explained to the court that the fleet's obligation to repay the funds was documented in a debt instrument that was later declared invalid. Therefore, the funds were collected under a legal procedure, but the ministry seeks unjust enrichment for the entire period when the fleet possessed the vessels, but had yet to pay for them.

The Moscow Commercial Court fully turned down the ministry's lawsuit in September. It held against the claim for 1.15 million euro from Sudoimport, which entered into contracts on the fleet's behalf. Thus, the ministry sought the amount of its agency fee.