In International Shipping News 05/10/2016
Fourteen Indians are reportedly stuck on four oil tankers anchored in the Gulf of Oman, off the United Arab Emirates’ Fujairah coast.
The mariners have requested rescue after being stranded on the ship’s for the last four months without pay.
The crew has not been paid since being recruited, but are also beginning to run low on food and fuel, according to a letter sent by the men to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). The ITF represents over 4.5 million transport workers from 150 countries and around 700 unions, and ensures safe vessels and decent working conditions for seafarers.
Sixteen crew members were recruited on a nine-month contract by a Mumbai-based crew manning agency, Abhay Shipping Pvt Ltd, for four Aframax vessels — MT (motor tanker) Beta (7 Indians), MT Cityelite (7), MT AL Nouf (2), MT Laowadale (2) — and departed from Mumbai for Dubai on June 8. From Dubai, they were sent to Fujairah to board the vessels. All four anchored vessels are in close proximity to each other.
CP Singh, the second officer of MT Beta is in charge of the vessel and said the ITF, UK, Directorate General (DG) of Shipping, Mumbai, the Indian Embassy in the UAE, the UAE labour ministry, and Khor Fakkan port authorities had all be contacted.
“We are still waiting for help,” he told Indian media via satellite phone.
Source: Arabian Supply Chain
