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ITF assists seafarers abandoned in Danish port
4 February 2010
The ITF has come to the assistance of three seafarers who were abandoned in Danish territory. The seafarers, whose passports were confiscated by the captain of their vessel, are to be deported following their conviction for being in Denmark illegally.
The three men, two Ghanaians and one Russian, were abandoned on board the St Vincent-flagged Cormorant in Frederiksværk in December. They were owed four months’ back wages and were left without food, water or electricity; local charities have since come to their aid.
The seafarers had been promised employment on board the vessel by the German captain, but were instead imprisoned on the Cormorant; the captain also confiscated their passports as well as other personal belongings.
ITF inspector Morten Bach has been liaising with lawyers to ensure that the vessel is arrested and that the seafarers are paid what they are owed as well as repatriation expenses.
The seafarers face being banned from travelling into Danish territory for at least one year; they also now hold a criminal record.
He said: “The ITF is working with other international bodies to ensure that innocent seafarers on board abandoned vessels in Danish or any other ports around the world are not treated like criminals. The real criminals are the shipowners who leave their crews behind.
“The lawyer in Denmark will now contact the Danish authorities and the police to ensure that the crewmembers on board the Cormorant are treated fairly.”
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