Sri Lanka’s only cargo ship detained in S. Africa for not paying the crew

SUNDAY, 27 MAY 2012 

‘Lanka Mahapola’, the only cargo ship belonging to Sri Lanka has been detained in Durban Port in South Africa on a court order. The vessel was detained on 17th May on a directive from a court in South Africa following written complaints by members of the crew stating they had not received wages for two months and conditions on the ship were poor.

The crew consists of 26 members of which 24 are Sri Lankans. The vessel owned by the Ceylon Shipping Corporation had been leased out to a private company, Triple. S. Shipping, which was responsible for the crew and the cargo on board.

According to sources the International Transport workers Federation (ITF) was looking after the interests of the crew members. Earlier too Lanka Mahapola was stuck in a Sudan Port during November last year with reports that those onboard were in distress with food, water, fuel and other basic items reaching rock bottom. The vessel had been refused entry into the port since the shipping company was in the red regarding port dues, such as bunkering, tug and other charges.