Owner Abandons Ship in Piracy Filled Waters Leaving Crew Behind
Crew Members Trapped as Owner Abandons Ship Near Somalia
A Sierra Leone-flagged vessel has been abandoned by its Lebanese owner leaving 11 crew-members behind.
The 1977 built vessel began to intake water after developing cracks in the hull while it was on journey from Dubai to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania but dropped anchor in waters near the Port of Mogadishu after it was denied entry to the port.
The International Transport Workers Federation learned that the vessel was abandoned by the owner in part possibly by unpaid salary due to the workers for the estimated past 4 months.
The crew has only been keeping the vessel afloat by pumping out water through pumps.
The owners have been unresponsive in regards to the vessel.
The crew-members are now waiting rescue but have been notified that not without the Port of Mogadishu giving approval.
