No end in sight to woes of Bahraini ship crew
Manama : The plight of the crew of the Bahraini ship stranded in Omani waters is continuing with no end in sight to their woes as the shipping company is involved in a financial dispute.
The three members of the crew are staying in the ship at an anchorage without fuel and electricity after being abandoned by their employers. DT News reported on April 22 the plight of the abandoned crew of the Bahraini cargo company who are living at the mercy of Omani authorities.
Bahrain International Seafarers Society Chairman Ali Al Ghawas said that despite the society’s best efforts, no progress has been made because the company does not have the financial resources to settle the dispute.
“The company appears to have no money to pay them or their agent who also have a dispute with them. Apart from the financial crisis, the ship does not have sufficient crew to set sail and the company is not able to get replacements,” he said.
“Bahraini authorities have limitations in what they can do because this is a financial dispute the company is involved in. I spoke to the captain and the chief engineer and I have told them this case is going to take longer to settle because of the nature of the case,” he said.
“I am surprised that they do not have fuel and electricity in their ship. I thought the Omani authorities would provide it. They should be provided with fuel and electricity as it is done in such cases in Bahrain. We should ensure that they have electricity until they leave,” he said.
The seafarers, originally a group of 18, were employed by a Bahraini shipping company for the past 18 months for shipping cargo in the Middle East region.
15 of the crew returned home after receiving part of their salary while 3 remained at the ship insisting on full payment of salaries. The crew who remain in the ship include a Jordanian, Syrian and a Myanmar national.
Thu Ya Aung, a crew member from Myanmar who works as the second engineer in the ship said that the situation has not improved. “The situation remains the same, it’s difficult. Without fuel or electricity, it is not even possible to cook. We are in the ship at the anchorage 24/7 for the past many months, never able to go on land,” he said. Mohammed Arrachedi, who is the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)’s Arab World Network Coordinator said that he is hopeful of a deal to get fuel to the ship. “There are some talks going on to deliver fuel, we are waiting to see the outcome,” he said.
“The crew have been without light since 6 weeks now. How do they go to the market while they are at the anchorage? This is indefensible, the company should be made to pay and send these men home,” he said.
When contacted by DT News previously, the owner of the company denied all allegations.
Related Posts