Ship row moves into fourth day

AN IRISH union inspector got his first full meal in 36 hours yesterday as a dispute between a Russian-crewed ship and its owners moves into a fourth day.

The vessel, Merchant Brilliant, has been marooned off Heysham, in England, since Monday evening.

The International Transport Federation claims 20 crew members are owed €150,000 in payment arrears and has demanded they are paid the money by the ships’s owners, ADG Shipmanagement.

Yesterday, a representative of that company travelled to Belfast to collect the money from the offices of Norfolk Lines.

“We are expecting a breakthrough,” said Ken Fleming the Irish member of the International Transport Federation who has been on the ship since Monday with his colleague Bill Anderson. They feared for their lives on Monday night when there was a dispute between the ship owners and crew.

Mr Fleming said the crew were thrown into turmoil again yesterday when news came from Russia that families were being visited by someone describing themselves as a journalist, who claimed the crew had been kidnapped and €200 was demanded for their release.

“They got €200 off one family. Between my phone and Bill’s phone we have been letting them ring home to talk to their families,” said Mr Fleming.

“The guys are exhausted. It is a very small ship and they are suffering from cabin fever and worried about their families.”

He said that delays in paying the crew were now primarily the responsibility of Norfolk Lines.

“I understand that ADG Shipmanagement paid over the arrears to Norfolk Lines as early as 11am on Tuesday, when the Merchant Brilliant was still in Heysham port, but Norfolk Lines transferred the funds to Belfast.’’

He said the member of ADG Shipmanagement was not expected back before lunchtime today.

Mr Fleming said union officials will not leave the ship until all the money is paid and all staff who want to get off the vessel and return to Russia were facilitated.

“A serious investigation is now needed into how Norfolk Lines and its Danish owner, Maersk, are conducting their operations on the Irish Sea,” said Mr Fleming.

“This case is yet another example of why we need proper regulation of the shipping industry in EU waters, not just for ferries or freighters but all commercial vessels,’’ Mr Fleming said.