Effort to recoup salaries of Durban crews at abandoned ships
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) says the International Transport Workers Federation has joined the bid to recoup the salaries owed to the crews of three abandoned ships at the Port of Durban.
The vessels have a total of 18 crew on board.
SAMSA says 11 of the seafarers are from India, six are Bangladeshi nationals, and one is Iranian.
The ship owners have failed to pay them, provide adequate food and medical care and repatriate them.
A ship is said to be considered abandoned when the vessel's owner has not communicated with the ship for several weeks.
On Monday, the maritime safety authority said the Mission to Seafarers and Meals on Wheels have come on board to help the three crews.
SAMSA's Sibusiso Rantsoabe says they will continue providing the assistance they need.
"The bank has been trying to sell the vessel without success. They have not paid salaries nor provided food since October 2021. It seems to be a trend at this bank, will allow four months to lapse before paying the salaries. This is a clear contravention of the maritime labour convention.
“During the period, the crew had been buying from [their] own pockets until they ran out of money. The owner had not been responding to communication from SAMSA since November 2021. The vessel remains detained by SAMSA."
