Oil tanker crew who were stranded off Sharjah head home
A financial dispute that stranded sailors on a ship off Sharjah has been resolved and the crew allowed to return home.
Sixteen Indian and Pakistani sailors had been on the 330-metre MT Zoya 1 awaiting clearance to come ashore but after a legal dispute they were owed months of salary.
Crew said all of the money owed had been paid and the men who had been stuck on board had been repatriated.
“All the problems have been resolved,” said a crew member on board Zoya 1. “There are no issues left and the second batch of crew will be leaving the vessel soon. The salaries have been paid and there is still crew on board.”
It is understood that six crew who were 17 kilometres off Sharjah for more than a year have now left Zoya 1. Ten more are waiting to be signed to be repatriated.
Charterer Avantgarde Petroleum, part of the ship’s owner ECB International, has been supporting the men who have also been helped by the Mission to Seafarers.
The charity’s welfare officers confirmed that all outstanding wages had been paid. One of the officers said it had been a difficult time for the men.
“We have been pushing the company to resolve the matter and to help these men, but it has not been easy,” he said. “We’ll be continuing to follow up with the company.
“The men were well taken care of and given provisions, and because of the help of the Indian embassy and other agencies they were able to sign the crew off.”
The charity is assisting two other crews facing similar issues while anchored off the UAE coast.
Ships such as the Panamanian-flagged Zoya 1 are mainly used for long-haul transport of crude oil from the Arabian Gulf to Europe, Asia and North America, and can cost up to US$120 million (Dh440.7m).
It is believed Zoya 1 was empty when it was anchored off Sharjah.
“The Zoya 1 ship was in the high seas, 11.5 nautical miles from Sharjah,” the Indian consulate’s spokesman said.
“On receipt of distress calls from the crew, we had intervened with the coastguard authorities, Sharjah Port Authority, the ship’s owners, Dubai authorities and the ship’s agent, Aurum Ship Management.
“In the interim, we were in constant touch with the crew. We are glad the issue has been resolved satisfactorily.”
There are no issues left and the second batch of crew will be leaving the vessel soon. The salaries have been paid CREWMAN Zoya 1