The 20 crew of the VLCC C Whale sought assistance from the Singapore unions in March after not being paid their wages. SMOU said negotiations took over a month to secure the payment of $300,000 in back wages at the end of April.
“I thank SMOU for their assistance in getting our wages back. I never thought I will be able to receive such kindness whilst in a foreign land. I look forward to seeing my family at the end of this episode,” said a 2nd engineer, Muhammad Hanif from Pakistan.
SMOU said all 20 seafarers are still onboard the vessel while they wait for its cargo to be unloaded. The seafarers are mainly from India, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Russia.
The Liberian-flagged, 319,000 dwt, C Whale arrived in Singapore waters in February from Indonesia and was arrested by the Singapore courts at the beginning of March over unpaid bunker bills.
It marks the latest in a series of woes for Su’s TMT which defaulted on a $650m 12 newbuilding order at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard last October. In November 2012 UK courts handed down Su an 18 month jail sentence in a case related to unpaid charter dues.
The amount of unpaid wages recovered by SMOU on behalf of the crew of the C Whale represents the second largest amount claimed by the union in unpaid wages over the last 20 years.
Mary Liew, executive secretary of SMOU said: “I am very glad that we fought for what is rightfully due to the seafarers and that they can finally put all these behind them and return home soon. Coincidentally, this ties in well with the spirit of Labour Day, and that is to protect the welfare of the workers from unfair treatment from their employers.” Liew also thanked International Lutheran Seafarers’ Mission and others who rendered their assistance.
The SMOU has recovered $15m worth in unpaid seafarer wages since 1993, the largest single amount being $400,000 two years ago.
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