Crew await their fate Photo: ITF

Appalling treatment of crew on rat-infested abandoned ship
One crewman has been on board vessel for two years without holidays, crew owed 140,000 Euros






The ITF is in the midst of negotiations to win a substantial amount in back wages owed to 25 crewmembers who were left on an abandoned vessel in the port of Santander, Spain.

The mainly Cameroonian seafarers on board the (now) Greek-owned cargo vessel Meugang 1, have been stranded in the port for three months and have had to endure appalling conditions; the vessel was infested with lice and rats and had to be fumigated. They are owed more than 140,000 euros (US$191,000) to cover outstanding wages backdated to October.

The seafarers are hoping that the new owners of the vessel – the ship was recently sold - will pay them their outstanding wages. The ITF, led by the federation’s inspector representing the Spanish affiliate ELA-hainbat, Mohamed Arrachedi, is currently negotiating with the new owner’s representatives to see that their claim is settled. If this does not happen, the ITF will assist the crew in taking their claim to court.

In the meantime, the seafarers, who have been facing destitution, are being assisted by the ITF and the local branch of another affiliate, CCOO. They are currently relying on food donated by charitable organisations. Four of the crew who were admitted to hospital suffering from a range of conditions on their arrival in port have now been discharged and are receiving medication on board.

Mohamed Arrachedi commented: “We are thankful for the assistance of the organisations we are working with, as this has now become a humanitarian crisis. For example, one crewmember has been on board the vessel for two years without any holidays.

“Not receiving any salary on top of all they have had to endure is a catastrophe for these seafarers.”

The ship has had an appalling record over recent times, being detained for many deficiencies. On one occasion no less than 68 were recorded. The 26 year old ship was operated by Africa Shipping, Congo.

Curiously the owner's withdrew her from class (Bureau Veritas)  in 2005 at 'Owner's request for other reasons' according to Equasis.

The last recorded detention was in Italy in September 2006 with 17 deficiencies, although Spanish press also report she was detained in Singapore thereafter with problems. She was then laid up in Senegal, due to her difficulties say the press, until her owner got a contract to take a cargo of cotton seed to Santander. Authorities there pounced on the ship when she arrived and found numerous problems, including non working radio and radar as well as the disgraceful state of the ship's general unsanitary conditions.