Nine Russian seafarers stranded in Portland after their ship was detained by UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in November will all be repatriated by Christmas, according to international maritime charity Sailors’ Society.
The men have now all been paid and have received their plane tickets home. Four have already left and the final five are due to fly on 24 December.
The Nigerian-flagged ship, MV Jireh, was towed into the port after it suffered power failure on 23 November.
The ship, en route to Senegal from Norway, had previously asked to berth in Jersey and then Guernsey.
The MCA detained the ship after inspecting it and recording 22 deficiencies, including failure to comply with on-board living standards.
One of the crew, who asked not to be named, said he is “satisfied and relieved” to be going home, but that the time in Portland had been frustrating because he did not know when he would be paid or be able to return to his family.
We’re pleased that the men are finally on the way home to see their families…The sad reality is that we deal with cases like this regularly, all over the world – and for some seafarers, it can be months or even years until they are able to return home,
…noted COO of Southampton-based Sailors’ Society, Sandra Welch.
Sailors’ Society’s chaplains work in 90 ports around the world, reaching out to 1,000 seafarers and their families every day.
