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Crew receives back wages (4/8)

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has issued the following news release and photos on behalf of the ITF-affiliated Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union. The MV Lady Belinda is registered in North Korea to Greek owners, according to news reports. Singapore, 7 April 2008 – A crew of 22 seamen, stranded onboard the MV Lady Belinda since January, has finally been paid $102,000 in wages owed to them since December 2007. Most of the relieved seamen on board, all Indian nationals, had submitted requests to leave the vessel when they received their salaries, which were paid to them in cash on 5 April 2008, citing the unseaworthiness of the vessel. The stricken bulk carrier, fully laden with iron ore, became immobilized on 5 January 2008 in the northern stretch of the Malacca Straits and had arrived under tow in Singapore on 14 January 2008. The vessel had since been detained by the authorities for not being seaworthy. The crew had sought the help of the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) to recover up to four months of wages. SMOU President Capt. Robin Foo said that he was appalled at the condition of the vessel, which had a visible hole at its stern just above the water line, and at the food and water provisions for the crew which were running low. “It is really distressing to see that seafarers are still being unscrupulously exploited, and the unsafe working conditions on board the unseaworthy vessel is a cause for concern for the industry,” he said. He added, “We are thankful for the assistance by the various seafaring welfare organizations, especially the International Transport Workers’ Federation and the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), who have helped with the humanitarian welfare of the seafarers and have assisted us with the wage recovery for the crew.” The vessel’s chief officer, G. Ramanamurthy, expressed his relief and thanked the ITF and SMOU, saying, “When food provisions were critical, especially during the Easter weekend, SMOU came on board with food. When we needed to contact our families, calling cards were provided and most importantly they helped us get our hard-earned wages. I will now go back to my family and will look out for a better vessel to work on board for my next voyage.” Junior Engineer Sheikh Yakub Umar added, “We never believed we could get our money back, but the ITF and SMOU have made it possible. I’m glad that the ordeal has almost come to an end.” Capt. Foo noted, “We’re very happy for the seafarers and it is very heartwarming as a unionist to see the joy on the faces of the seafarers who have finally received wages that they have been owed for many months and that they have worked very hard for.” He added that there was still some unfinished business. “As the vessel is still unsafe and unseaworthy, we are now working to ensure that the vessel owner and the employers pay for the full repatriation of the seafarers on board and that they will continue to pay all additional wages incurred until the crew sign off the vessel and are repatriated.” ###