The International Transport Workers’ Federation has issued the following press release: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 were 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 bookkeeping.” Twelve 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 vessel and its owner have a very poor history of safety and crew problems. The 12 crew are owed wages and compensation of around $97,000.
###
Printer Friendly Page