China Daily reports
Image Credit: Shipspotting
Local media in Belgium had repeatedly reported that 11 Chinese sailors were on the brink of starvation in their “blocked” cargo ship MV C Ladybug in the Antwerp port and their personal freedom had been compromised. However, Fu Jing from China Daily reports that he communicated with the Chinese embassy in Belgium. Officials there told that the embassy had sent an emergency team to the port, about 70 km from Brussels, to seek firsthand information.
The team later told local media that the media had exaggerated the dire situation of the Chinese crew, who have been forced to stay in Antwerp since March 14 due to the Taiwan ship owner’s financial difficulties.
Chinese Ambassador Liao Liqiang led another team to the freight vessel to talk with the captain and other sailors.
The brand-new vessel, Ladybug, usually transports China-made new cars and European secondhand automobiles to African countries. The 13-deck ship can carry 7,600 cars.The ship was ordered by a Belgian court to dock in Antwerp’s port because the ship owner, Taiwan Maritime Transportation Co Ltd, a bulk shipper and energy transportation firm, had filed for bankruptcy protection.
According to China Daily Wang Zhenfu, 36, the Ladybug captain, said the supplies in the ship are adequate for one month. The Captain also stated that he hopes that the ship owner acts quickly to pay their wages because they haven’t been paid since May. And the ship owner should also find ways to let them sail the vessel to Africa where they can unload the used European vehicles.
The vessel has been out of the media spotlight for a while, Wang said. But last week, a new international pact on sailors’ rights took effect. Then the International Transport Workers’ Federation, which has been following the ship for a long time, sent European media on board to cover the event.
A similar situation has been reported by Maltese media about twenty-one seafarers who have been abandoned off the port of Malta on board MV A Ladybug for months and are looking for compensation from the financially stricken company. The Taiwanese company has abandoned them at ocean with no fuel and restricted nourishment and water.
