Lost Seamen

Simone Pierotti

Set Ref:208

Date:24/03/2010

As a result of the global economic crisis, a growing number of companies have been forced to close down. The crews of the abandoned ships with their human resources waiting for legal actions to be resolved are living examples of what happens to these workers

Vessels are considered abandoned when its shipping company decides not to grant seaworthiness and ceases assistance to the crew-members. For a seafarer, alarm bells may ring when salary is delayed or owners procrastinate with empty promises. But these may be just the beginning of struggles for crews stuck far away from home with no money and no legal permission to leave the ship. The situation get worst as generators runs out of fuel and food supplies run low and the ship becomes like a floating jail.

The V/M Nikolaiev is a Dry Cargo flying the Malta flag. Owned by the Russian Gaz Prom Company with Ukrainan crew. About three years ago the ship was abandoned in the most remote dock in Ravenna port (Italy).