Sailors Onboard Detained Ship Plea for Help
Crew members of the Cai Lan 4 have been detained for two months
On Christmas Day, the 22 crew members onboard the Cai Lan 4 sent a letter to Vinashin Ocean Shipping Co. (Vinashinlines) pleading for their help after being detained for two months in the port of Kolkata.
The ship was detained by Indian courts in late October because of the owners unpaid debt to a Singaporean oil supplier.
The crew says they have repeatedly contacted the Vinashinlines requesting their help and supplies, but have received no support.
The crew has run out of fresh water and food, leaving several ill. The Vietnamese Embassy has been asked to step in to assist the crew.
Vinashinlines says they are aware of the arrest and have reported concerns for the crew to the local Government and now can only wait for a response.
Vietnamnet Bridge reports that Vinashinlines has more than 16 vessels stranded abroad, each vessel with 10 to 20 crew members onboard. The Vietnamese government has promised to provide a grant of more than $10 million to get these ships back home, but Vinashinlines is likely to sell the vessels from where they are to avoid the costs associated with bringing the vessels home.
Image courtesy of maritime connector