Unhealthy Conditions and a Fatality on Arrested Reefer Vessel

An attache at the Russian Consulate General in Shenyang reported Tuesday that there had been a fatality on the arrested fishing tender Professor Megrabov in Dalian, China. The crew had previously reported poor conditions aboard.

"His body was taken from the ship and will be cremated and the ashes returned to Russia,” said Attache Kirill Mahrin. He did not give the name of the deceased.

Russian media said that the crew had issued a video claiming nonpayment of four months of wages and a lack of heating, light, food, and fuel on board, in addition to their discovery of the body. Russian authorities are reportedly investigating the claims, especially the wage dispute, and may file charges against the employer, a firm by the name of Roman based in Vladivostok.

The consulate reported that living conditions on the Megrabov have improved recently. “[The crew] told us that they had no fuel, no electricity on board. We have heard that they have added fuel, and brought back electricity. We communicated with the employer company and they dealt with these issues,” said Mahrin, speaking to Russian media. “The charterer and the owner are now undergoing receivership . . . as I understand it, they have enough money to pay the expenses, "

Earlier in the month, the Russian Federal Agency of Marine and River Transport informed media that the Megrabov was seized by a court in Dalian on the request of trading firm Jane International, a Bahrain-based broker of fish and animal products. The court filing alleged that the Megrabov's cargo of 180 tons of Alaskan cod was tainted, and Jane refused to take delivery. The firm called for the vessel to be detained pending repayment of the shipment's value, and authorities carried out the arrest December 4.