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Crew abandoned in the Seychelles wins claim for back wages
7 September 2006
A crew of 18, abandoned in a Seychelles port, had its claim for outstanding wages upheld in a court ruling at the end of August, thanks to intervention by the ITF.
Crewmembers on board a St Kitts and Nevis flagged cargo ship, Al Manara, were abandoned in February this year in Port Victoria. They were left without food or water after the ship, which was experiencing engine problems, was eventually towed into the port by the Seychelles authorities; it had been adrift for 18 days.
The vessel, owned by an Iraqi living in the United Arab Emirates, had been en route from Somalia to Dubai with a cargo of coal. Its crewmembers were from various countries including Ethiopia, India and Sudan.
The owner, who was contacted by the ITF, was reportedly “unconcerned” about the welfare of the crew. However, aided by the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS), as well as the ITF, the crew’s immediate needs were met. The St Kitts and Nevis international ship registry, the flag state, agreed to make a donation to AOS, following pressure from the ITF.
In June, the crewmembers filed a claim for outstanding wages with the assistance of the ITF, which appointed a lawyer to act on their behalf. On 18 August, a court in the Seychelles ruled that the crew should receive a total of US$107,000 in back wages.
Most of the crew have now been repatriated; two remain on board pending the sale of the ship – currently valued at US$558,000 - towards the end of this month. The outstanding wages will be paid from the proceeds.
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