Ship detained in Castellon/Buque atracado en Puerto de Castellon

12 March 2008

The ITF has come to the rescue of 22 seafarers working on the 17 year old Panama flagged vessel Newfane berthed in the port of Castellon, Spain.

The crew members complained to the ITF inspector German Arias that they had very little food and the drinkable water onboard the vessel. The ITF has pictures which show that the ship’s fridges and store rooms where almost barren on food with only one solitary pineapple occupying one store room.  In addition, the crew complained of working long hours and were not being paid the proper wages in accordance with their ITF contract of employment and were not paid for the extra overtime that they were being forced to work.

After further inspection by the ITF inspector, it was found that the crew were being forced to sign individual and collective wage accounts and overtime records that were false - what the ITF calls “double book keeping”.  12 of the 22 Ukraine crew have demanded to be repatriated to their home in Ukraine.  The crew fear that the company will force them to sail the vessel against their will and are asking for the Spanish Port Authorities to help them prevent this.

The vessel has now been detained by Spanish Port State Control (PSC). It is understood that the vessel has over 20 defects.  The vessel has been detained several times by Port State Control in Europe and the vessels and its owners have a very poor history of safety and crew problems. The 12 crew are owed wages and compensation of around $97,000.

For further information contact:   

ITF inspector German Arias Tel:  +34 (0) 605189125

 

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La ITF ha acudido al rescate de 22 marinos que trabajan a bordo del barco con bandera panamena Newfane, de 17 anos de antiguedad, que se encuentra atracado en el Puerto de Castellon

Los miembros de la tripulacion se quejaron al inspector de la ITF German Arias de que tenian muy poca comida y agua potable a bordo. La ITF ha obtenido fotos que muestran las camaras donde se almacenan los alimentos completamente vacias, con una pinha solitaria por toda provision de comida para 22 tripulantes. Ademas, la tripulacion se quejo de que trabajan muchas horas y no se les han pagado los salarios correspondientes de acuerdo con el convenio y contrato de trabajo, nil as pagas correspondientes a las horas extra.

Tras una completa inspeccion llevada a cabo por el inspector de la ITF, se descubrio que la tripulacion habia sido forzada a firmar nominas individuales y colectivas que eran falsas, lo que la ITF considera “doble contabilidad”. 12 de los 22 tripulantes ucranianos han pedido su repatriacion a Ucrania. Ademas, temen que la companhia los fuerce a navegar en el barco contra su voluntad y piden a las autoridades espanholas que les ayuden para evitarlo.

El buque ha sido detenido por Port State Control debido a 20 deficiencias. Igualmente, ha sido detenido en numerosos ocasiones por Port State Control en Europa, y tanto los barcos como sus propietarios tienen muy malos informes sobre la seguridad y los problemas con las tripulaciones. A los doce tripulantes se les deben salarios y compensaciones por valor de unos 97.000 dolares

Para mas informacion, contacten:  

ITF inspector German Arias Tel:  +34 (0) 605189125

ENDS

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org

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