Company agrees to pay arrears to MV Julia crew

A Dutch company has today agreed to pay arrears totalling $102,700 (€79,477) owed to nine Eastern European sailors, engaged in a work stoppage in Drogheda.

The crew of the MV Julia refused to allow a cargo of cement onto the ship, when it docked in Drogheda, Co Louth yesterday, complaining that they had not been paid since May.

Following intervention from the International Transport Federation, the company, Transhipment Management, has this evening agreed to pay all back pay owed to the seafarers.

"It's a fantastic result," said Ken Fleming, Irish and UK coordinator for the ITF.

"They were very very strong men. It's not easy to stand up [for one's rights].

"They'll sail to Antwerp now with their cargo of cement, from Drogheda, and they'll be repatriated in Antwerp because the relationship them and their employer, the company, has broken down.

"But they did agree to make one last voyage to Antwerp and the company agreed to let them be repatriated from that port."