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Seafarers stranded in Spain win back pay
21 September 2007
 |  |  view larger image | | | Seafarers in back pay win [Photo courtesy of Beatriz Ortiz Martinez] | |
Twenty-five seafarers on board an abandoned vessel in the port of Santander have won their fight for back pay.
The crewmembers of Panama-flagged cargo vessel Meugang 1, received outstanding wages backdated to October last year, following intervention by the ITF and two of its Spanish affiliates ELA-hainbat and the local branch of CC.OO. Last week the new owner paid the seafarers’ claim in full – 187,000 euros (US$264,000) to cover wages up to 11 September.
Twenty-four of the seafarers were repatriated to their home countries – Cameroon and Ghana - last Friday. Meanwhile, the ship’s captain remains in the seafarers’ centre in Santander, where he is receiving medical assistance; he will be repatriated once he has finished receiving treatment.
“We are glad that we have been able to help the seafarers to achieve a satisfactory outcome. We hope that this will go some way to alleviate the harsh conditions they have had to suffer on board this vessel,” said ITF inspector Mohamed Arrachedi.
The new owner has replaced the crew with seven Russian seafarers; however, it is unlikely that the vessel will resume normal operations until repairs have been carried out.
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