| 2014-11-14: |
14-11-2014 Stranded JANA crew running low on supplies, no relief in sight. The stranded crew of a cargo ship docked in Argentia (Canada) hasn't been paid in months and are running out of food, with no relief in site any time soon. The 11 crew members haven't received paycheques in more than four months, and say they're stuck on their broken-down cargo ship until the owners take some sort of action. However, the crew is stuck is the middle of a bankruptcy case that's playing out in Europe. Sergey Orel says he and the rest of the stranded Jana crew haven't been able to keep in touch with their families while they've been docked in Argentia. (CBC) Crew member Sergey Orel said without internet access or even a phone, there's no way for the crew to know how their families are doing back home. Orel added for those with families in war-torn areas of Ukraine, there's no way to get news. "Everyone needs to know how [their] family is. About children, brother, sisters — doesn't matter what, they just want to know," he said. The company that owns the ship is going through bankruptcy, and the captain hasn't heard any news from the owners. CBC News contacted the lawyer overseeing that process in Germany. He said $20,000 has been sent to replenish food supplies and make sure the ship has water and fuel. However, the money has yet to reach the ship or workers. No confirmation of insurance John Boland, with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union, said about $2,000 worth of food has been donated to the crew from the union, but that's not enough. "That's only just keeping the wolf from the door —well, the wolf is on the gangplank in their case. It's a humanitarian problem we have here," said Boland. Gerard Bradbury says the Jana crew had run out of bottled water, toothpaste and toilet paper, until the FFAW provided some on Friday. (CBC) Crew members also don't have any winter clothes with them. The FFAW is collecting warm clothes, as well as food, that groups or organizations want to donate, and will make sure it gets to the Jana crew. Gerard Bradbury, with the International Transport Workers' Federation and UNIFOR, said there are also some serious concerns about a possible lack of insurance for the vessel. Bradbury said he's been unable to receive confirmation of any insurance, meaning if some of the crew encounter health problems, they may not be covered. He added there are crew members going without regular medications, including blood pressure medication, which could lead to further complications. According to Bradbury, the crew is owed approximately $160,000 in wages. Stranded Jana crew thrilled to finally head home. Some crew members staying on, to oversee repairs to the ship's engine. Some Russian and Ukrainian sailors that were stranded in Argentia are happy to finally return home. The 8,000 tonne freighter broke down on the way to picking up a load of sulphur at the Come By Chance refinery in the late summer. The ship then got caught in the middle of a bankruptcy case involving the owners in Europe. A bank has finally stepped in and taken ownership of the Jana, which means the crew has finally been paid four months of wages that they were owed. It also means that four of the crew will be picked up on Thursday to catch a flight in St. John's to start the journey home. Even though the ship has a new owner and finances have been straightened out, half of the crew will still be staying on for an extra few weeks to oversee the repairs to the ship's engine. Sergii Orel is one of the crew members flying home on Thursday with four months' salary in his pocket. He said all that time away from his girlfriend in Ukraine was difficult. "A lot of time she's waiting for me, eight months," he said. "Every day she asked me about the news, about everything. So she's happy, like me." Orel said the experience hasn't turned him off from a life of seafaring, and he has a new appreciation for the people of Newfoundland. Sergii Orel, says he can't wait to see his girlfriend after eight months away from Ukraine. (CBC) "That's just our job, that's all," he said. "I enjoyed. Enjoyed the country, enjoyed everything and the nature, people, very kind people. Thanks a lot for help." Sergey Alipichev, the ship's captain, will be staying on the Jana until it departs again. He said he doesn't mind having to remain on the ship until the engine is repaired. "What would I be doing home winter time?" he said."It's cold. Better to have a job." The crew still doesn't know exactly where the Jana is headed once the repairs are completed, which is estimated to take four to six weeks. |
