Languishing in a foreign country for over a year, the 12 Indian sailors (mostly from Navi Mumbai and Mumbai) onboard are waiting for the ship to be auctioned to get their long-pending dues
Food supplies onboard the Indian vessel detained off Scotland have been fast depleting
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It's been over a year, but there seems to be no help on the way for the 12 crew members, most from India (Navi Mumbai and Mumbai), detained on a supply vessel at Aberdeen Harbour, northeast of Scotland, UK, after their Mumbai-based company went bankrupt and said it couldn't help with their return. Supplies - fuel and food - have been depleting rapidly, with prospect of a rescue dim. The crew hasn't even got salary since then, making life difficult for their loved ones back home.
mid-day had highlighted their plight on August 10 (12 Indians languish over a year in ship off Scotland).
Running out
That very day (August 10), a crew member from Juhu, Clay Vaz, 52, said, the Scotland court had passed an order after listening to arguments from both sides that the vessel should be sold and the crew paid salary up to July 2017.
"International Transport Workers Federation inspector Liam Wilson, who has been assisting us with the help of local seafarers' welfare organisation in procuring food and water, has said it would take another 12 to 16 weeks before the ship is sold; money got from the sale would be used to clear our dues," Vaz added.
When asked about the goings-on onboard, he said, "As of now, nothing. The court will appoint a surveyor to survey the vessel and determine its value. We will be paid till July 2017, as the wages are more than the cost of the vessel."
Regarding any crew member facing any health complications, he replied in the negative.
The major concern at this moment is shortage of food and drinking water, he said, adding, "We are not sure how long we can continue with the present stock, unless some good Samaritans come forward and help us out."
Worries back home
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, Vaz's wife became emotional while speaking to mid-day. "The Indian Consulate in UK is ready to assist the crew in returning home, but the minute they leave the vessel, they won't be entitled to any money from the company, as per the international maritime norms," she said.
"My husband has been working for Gold Offshore Limited, a Mumbai-based company, for the last 29 years, drawing a salary of Rs 45,000. If he gets paid till July 2017, he will be entitled for over R5 lakh. The worry is that it is not clear how long they will have to wait for the vessel to get auctioned and the price it will fetch.
"Also, the food is getting over; they have been eating only khichdi for days with three-fourths of the essentials over."
She said, "Even after returning, he won't be able to get a job at his age. We are worried about his gratuity and provident fund that he has been entitled to for the last 29 years, as the shipping company has already undergone the liquidation process. We have no option other than keeping our fingers crossed."
Attempts made to contact Dr Malini Shankar, director general of shipping, and Amitabh Kumar, additional director general, did not yield any result.
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