The Hindu Business Line : Wage arrears: Georgian ship owner ordered to appear in court

THE Ernakulam First Class Magistrate court has directed the owner of the Georgian-based vessel, Sea Emperor, to appear in the court on January 6 in connection with the arrears of pay due to the crew.

The cargo ship loaded with 5,000 tonnes of sulphur had arrived at the Cochin Port on December 2005. It had a 22-member crew, 21 belonging to Yugoslavia and one hailing from Ukraine. The ship was owned by W.W Ship Management Ltd, Limassol, Cyprus.

The ship had been detained at the port on the orders of the Mumbai High Court on a petition filed by Cyprus-based Island Oil Ltd company complaining that $1,20,087 was due to the company for supplying oil to the ship.

Meanwhile, the Cochin ITF (International Transport Workers Federation) Inspectorate had also intervened in the matter knowing that the crew were not paid the wages. The ITF Inspector at Cochin Mr Thomas Sebastian said that he had contacted the company and asked them to sign an ITF approved agreement in respect of the crew of the vessel. The Special Seafarers Department at ITF London also interacted with the company to sign the ITF agreement.

As the company had decided to sell the vessel in Kochi, the crew at the instance of ITF Cochin Inspectorate and Cochin Port Staff Association filed claim petition in the Magistrate Court for the back wages to the tune of $2,05,453. The Magistrate ordered distress warrant to the vessel till January 7 and sent notice to the owner to appear in the court.