Discover the Petrel-S: Ratings & Maritime News

In a heartening turn of events, the 15 Ghanaian sailors who had been marooned aboard the bulk carrier Sider Pink at the port of La Pallice in La Rochelle for an extended period of over six months are set to return home. Their long wait has finally come to an end as they are scheduled to fly back to Ghana on January 22, 2016. The crew members received their owed wages after the Thomas Agency successfully secured a payment exceeding $350,000 from BNP, one of the primary creditors of the abandoned vessel. With the necessary funds in hand, officials from the Thomas Agency promptly arranged airline tickets for the sailors, facilitating their journey from Nantes to Casablanca before heading to Accra. This development marks a significant relief for the stranded mariners, who can now reunite with their families after their unexpected ordeal. For further details, check out the report with photographs at France3 regions.

Eighteen crew members of the bulk carrier 'Sider Pink' are currently facing a wage crisis, with a total of €168,000 in unpaid salaries while the vessel remains docked at the Grand Port of La Rochelle. The crew, comprised of 17 Greek nationals and one sailor from Ghana, are hopeful for resolution as a representative from the crew's Greek employer is scheduled to arrive next week. On September 2, 2015, their legal counsel, Geoffroy Lamade, the Atlantic representative for the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), expressed optimism following recent discussions regarding the situation. In a related health matter, on September 1, six sailors who sought medical advice returned with minor health issues deemed non-serious. This unfolding situation has attracted attention and concern, with local coverage highlighting the plight of the sailors seeking justice for their owed wages. Full details can be found in a French report with accompanying photographs: http://www.sudouest.fr/2015/09/02/168-000-eur-de-salaires-impayes-un-espoir-pour-les-18-marins-bloques-a-la-rochelle-2112604-4628.php