Dubai: Eight Indian sailors, who were stranded without wages for nine months aboard the vessel MV Topman in Dubai, flew home on Saturday night.
The repatriation of the crew members of the Panama-flagged ship that was docked in Dubai Maritime City took place after authorities and philanthropists intervened.
In a report published on September 25, Gulf News had highlighted the plight of the sailors who claimed that their company had abandoned them without providing wages and enough food and fuel.
They had said that they had been paid only one month’s salary since they reached Dubai waters in November 2017. They had also alleged that there was minimal supply of food and drinking water and they had been supplied food twice by Nautical Institute UAE.
Speaking to Gulf News from India, the seafarers on Sunday said they agreed to fly home after the Protection and Indemnity (P and I) Insurer assured them of four months’ payment once they reach India.
The sailors said they had been informed by the Panama Consulate that following the Gulf News report, the mission had initiated proceedings against the company and the Federal Transport Authority of the UAE had imposed fines on the company since it did not provide a plan to solve the sailors’ plight.
“We are relieved that we could meet our families,” said Kushal Singh, the chief engineer of the vessel.
“We thank everyone who helped us. We are hopeful that the payment assured by P and I Club will reach us tomorrow. We are also hopeful that the flag state will help us recover our pending salaries for five months and 10 days when the vessel’s new owners apply for registration,” he said.
A representative of the vessel’s agency said the firm paid for new visas, tickets and overstay fines to facilitate the sailors’ repatriation, despite being not paid by the company since January. She said various officials from the Dubai Maritime City Authority and Dubai Police also offered their assistance.
“We also appreciate the efforts of Geo Augustine of P and I Insurer and the generosity of N.M. Panicker, managing director of Expert United Marine Services, for supporting the crew with essential supplies and doing repairs of the vessel.”
