We published details some time ago in our ‘Ships of Shame’ series about the efforts of the International Transport Federation and RMT Trade Union to highlight low pay and ‘no pay’ on some foreign flagged vessels.
We focused particularly on the plight of two Indian registered offshore oil industry support vessels the Malaviya Seven and Malaviya Twenty:
Following action by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency the vessels were detained at Aberdeen and Great Yarmouth respectively.
Since then the crews have remained on board with support from the Unions and local people. However relief is in sight for the crew of the Malaviya Seven has a Court in Scotland has now given the green light to an auction of the vessel later this month with the proceeds being used to pay outstanding wages to the men (see link below):
https://www.irishtimes.com/…/cork-auctioneer-to-sell-vessel…
It’s still unclear what the position is with the other vessel.
The issue highlights once again the way seafarers can be harshly treated not just on vessels flagged in third world countries but also on Manx registered vessels were the wages paid can sometimes be less than the minimum wage in the Isle of Man
Bernard Moffatt
pp Celtic League
07/10/17
