Stranded crew to receive €70,347 in back pay as ship sold

A SHIP stranded along with its crew in New Ross for almost two months was yesterday sold at auction, meaning the crew can finally be paid the thousands of euro withheld from them by its owners.

The 2,500-tonne freighter Lillian was detained in June after its cargo of steel was found to be badly corroded by sea water and the ship has also failed to meet basic safety standards.

When the International Transport Federation examined conditions on the ship it found the nine-man crew had not eaten properly for 21 days and were owed $96,000 (€70,347) in back pay.

Yesterday following a court order to recover money from the owners, the ship was sold for €410,000 to a Greek shipping company in New Ross.

The purchaser was Ioannis N Nomkon of the Ola Maritime Company SA, Greece.

International Transport Federation inspector Ken Fleming, of SIPTU, who attended the auction said: “There had been fears that the vessel would not fetch enough to cover the pay due to the Russian seafarers. I am satisfied that they will now be paid.

“We owe this outcome to the good stewardship of the case by Mr Justice Paul Butler, who vindicated the men’s rights in the courts. The ITF can also take comfort from the great support given to the crew by the people of New Ross, Customs and Department of Social and Family Affairs personnel, the Local Project Centre and the Chamber of Commerce.

“These men would have been literally left to starve on the quayside, caught in the middle of a legal wrangle between the ship’s owners and its customers over a damaged cargo, but for the help of the community in New Ross and Judge Butler.

“We have a long way to go before the abuses that are so prevalent in the shipping industry are ended but at least we are beginning to see the beginnings of public awareness.

“Hopefully the politicians can follow where ordinary people lead.”