Abandoned Ship's Crew

[Maydup]

There's a ship in port which is at the centre of a legal battle regarding ownership. Its from India and the owners went into liquidation. The Indian bank and the liquidators, and now the local port are locked in this legal tangle, and all the while the crew remain on board.

Its been 18 months now, and I cannot understand why they have to stay on board? Stuck in port watching DVDS. Four of them are being swapped for new crew members over Christmas. why can they not go home?

http://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/harbour-port-news/history-repeats-itself-for-malaviya-twenty-vessel-1-5314428

[EDDIE51]

It's a very complex situation. The vessel has been impounded by the port in the hope they can sell it to recover the port fees they are owed.
But the original owners and the liquidators also claim ownership.
If the ship crew were to leave it the vessel would be immediately treated as abandoned and sold by the port, but it would only get scrap value which would not even cover the costs already incurred. The crew think their best chance of eventually getting paid is to hold on in the ship in the hope it will be able to be sold as a going concern.

[Zacs-Master]

It’s probably quite a cushy number for the crew.

[mikey4444]

Perhaps these crew can't afford the airfare home ?

There was a similar situation in Cornwall ( Falmouth, I think ? ) where the Asian crew was supported by the local community, otherwise they would have starved to death.

[EDDIE51]

^ They are being fed by the Trade Union that is handling their case and charity donations so they are not going hungry. But their families back in India are depending on them to send money home to live on so I don't know how they are coping
( not that I expect many AB members to care )

[mikey4444]

Its a sad situation Eddie.

[Maydup]

That helps explain it Eddie, and maybe the port are therefore insisting on the crew remaining? But who would be paying for some new crew to come over and swap with four current members?

[EDDIE51]

I think the Trade Union is doing that as they think that in the long run maintaining the ship in working order so it can be sold as a seaworthy ship at a reasonable price is the best way out of the situation.

[Maydup]

I see, I guess there is such a limited market for second hand ships, and they are so complex that they have to be constantly maintained and in tip top condition to retain any value at all.
We pass the ship a couple of times a week and unless the local media remind us, we almost forget they are on there.

[Peter Pedant]

I agree eddie
knowing nothing about maritime law

you can arrest a ship - and this seems to have been done
( I think it is the only THING - oops airplane perhaps - you can arrest otherwise it has to be people)

and I agree if they walked off - abandoned and scrap....
getting paid from a company in liquidation - good luck - unless - - they are already being paid as costs to liquidation

JOhnny Halliday again on the Beeb
I REALLY wish they would say shonny allee-day
that is his name

[EDDIE51]

^ yes I think that only the lawyers will benefit as their fees are already probably more than the ship is worth even in good condition.

[Tuvok]

Search for Malavia Seven - the last of its crew got to go home last week.

[Maydup]

Good news Tuvok, lets hope a buyer can be found for our ship too.