Second Latvian ship detained as crew owed €42k in wages

YET another ship belonging to a Latvian shipping company has been detained because it owes its crew members thousands of dollars in unpaid wages.

The eight crew members of the Linda arrived in Dundalk port and contacted transport trade union, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), to say they were owed at least $60,000 (€42,000).

Ken Fleming, an ITF inspector, found only one day’s food supply onboard and enough fuel to supply heat and light to the vessel for about a week.

“The ship was effectively abandoned in Dundalk after being inspected by Port State Control, which identified eight breaches of safety regulations. The crew carried out essential repairs to the engine but Forestry Shipping refused to pay bills to local creditors and even cancelled the captain’s mobile phone account,” said Mr Fleming.

Forestry Shipping also owns the Defender, the vessel inspected by the ITF on a number of occasions in Cork and found not to have paid its crew.

It was this week detained in Holland. “According to ITF records, the company has not paid any of its crews in 2009. This shipping line has set a new low in shipping standards.”

The Defender “has not paid its crew – one man has not been paid for six months. The Dutch will not let it sail. They are arresting another ship (belonging to Forestry Shipping) for the same reason.

“They have written to me asking me to let them know any outstanding monies from Ireland.”

Mr Fleming said he had spoken again to the owners of Forestry Shipping.

“I got onto the man in Forestry Shipping on the phone and he basically said he would be operating profitably if it was not for the ITF. I put it to him that he has not paid any of his crew in 2009. He said ‘we are looking into that.’”

While he seeks to have the Linda arrested, Mr Fleming is applying for social welfare for the crew and has arranged for fresh water and basic provisions to be brought onboard.