The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has arrested offshore supply vessel Malaviya Seven in Aberdeen on behalf of the ship’s crew in order to recover unpaid salaries.
in Aberdeen on behalf of the ship’s crew in order to recover unpaid salaries.The vessel, which is owned by Indian owner GOL Offshore, has been detained in Aberdeen since October 2016 after the crew members claimed they had been owed salaries for several months.
Malaviya Seven’s sister vessel Malaviya Twenty was also detained in UK by ITF in June 2016 over a crew salary dispute. The 12 crew from that vessel recovered their salary in February under legal assistance from ITF.
“To say that workers are owed $666,938.03 is in itself a scandal. The owners and the Indian flag state should hang their head in shame. Equally all those that could have brought the situation to an end months ago should reflect on their inactivity,” said ITF UK and Ireland coordinator Ken Fleming.
“My organisation the ITF will now deal aggressively with the situation. Should the company or the bank not come in on record by early next week we will apply to the courts to dispose of the vessel by way of a sale to recover the crew wages. The situation will not be allowed to drag unnecessarily,” Fleming added.
According to ITF, the legal process is underway and could take 12 to 16 weeks. The vessel could ultimately be sold off if the claims are not settled.
