Stranded Lankan crew to be paid, charges to be dropped

Durban: A Sri Lankan shipping company that leased its cargo vessel, the Lanka Mahaphola, which is currently detained in Durban Harbour, South Africe over a wage dispute and safety regulations, has agreed to pay the disgruntled 26-man crew.

Durban attorney Nalini Maharaj, who is acting on behalf of the owner of Triple S Shipping, a Dr Sanjaya, told the Daily News on Tuesday that the wage dispute would be settled and criminal charges against 13 of the crew members would be withdrawn by Thursday.

The 13 men were arrested at the weekend for allegedly stealing scrap metal from the ship. The desperate crew members had told their lawyer, Struan Mundell, that it was common practice to sell the ship’s scrap metal, with the captain’s permission, in order to make some pocket money.

The crew had claimed they were owed wages totalling $85 000 (R708 900) for approximately three months, and had been working in poor conditions on board the vessel.

They alerted the International Transport Workers’ Federation, which led to a Durban High Court order for a maritime lien – the attachment of a ship as property in lieu of debt.