MOSCOW, 28 Dec Russian sailors from the crew of the Panamanian cargo ship Leros -1, who spent several months on the ship at a Venezuelan port without pay or regular food supplies, are already on their way home, Captain Albert Fazliev of the Caracas International Airport said by phone.
«We are already at the airport… We are waiting for the flight home. The salaries of the crew have been fully paid. True, only four have tickets for the entire journey to Vladivostok, the rest only have tickets to Istanbul, but they promise to provide us with tickets from Istanbul to Vladivostok and for those who do not have them yet,» he told the agency.
On December 20, the captain reported that the predominantly Russian crew of the Panamanian cargo ship Leros-1 has been in the Venezuelan port of La Guaira since August, not receiving enough food, not receiving wages and the necessary technical and administrative assistance. The team demanded full payment in accordance with the contract and return to their homeland. The Russian sailors turned to the Russian Embassy in Venezuela and the International Federation of Transport Workers' Unions (ITF) for help.
«We are very grateful to everyone who helped us these days. Russian diplomats, of course, helped a lot — the head of the consular department of the Russian embassy in Caracas, Kirill Aleksandrovich Abramov, and other embassy employees,» Fazliev told the agency.
«Great help was provided by the representatives of the International Federation of Transport Workers' Unions, ITF, primarily Russian Petr Ivanovich Osichansky, and many other caring people. Many thanks to everyone!» — added the captain.
According to him, the Russians are provided with air tickets by the new owner of the vessel: the owner of the dry cargo ship has changed over the past week.
On December 26, the crew was charged with all wage arrears, and on December 27, ship owners began to deal with air tickets, Fazliev said. After months of uncertainty, food shortages and the daily need to stand up for their rights, seafarers have the opportunity to spend the New Year at home with their families, he said.
«The ship's owners have informed us that there are minor problems with tickets for the second part of the route, from Istanbul to Vladivostok, due to pre-New Year's Eve traffic, but they are doing their best to find seats on flights for those of us who who so far have tickets only half way,» the captain added.
«Of course, we all strive to get home by the New Year. Everyone is eager for their wives, children. So, finally, everything is fine with us: the way it should be after the end of the contract. Once again, many thanks to everyone who helped «, — said Fazliev.