Read Authentic Ratings for the Vamika

The vessel formerly known as Riroil 5, now renamed KPS Selma Sultan, has embarked on a new journey under the Liberian flag, departing Gibraltar on May 7, 2019, at 9:20 a.m. This marked a significant moment for the ship, which was previously detained upon its arrival from Istanbul on March 13 at Gibraltar. Following its departure, the KPS Selma Sultan made a stopover at Algeciras from May 10 to May 12 before continuing its voyage to Freetown.

In a recent announcement, Palmali, a shipping company based in Istanbul, Turkey, is set to rectify overdue wage payments for the crew members of four vessels currently anchored near Rostov-on-Don. Rauf Aliyev, Vice-President of Palmali, revealed that efforts are underway to ensure that the crews of the Riroil - 2, Riroil - 3, Riroil - 5, and Adriatic Mariner receive their back wages within the next two weeks. Aliyev attributed the delays in payment to the complexities involving foreign banks amid global sanctions on the Russian Federation, particularly mentioning issues related to the verification processes by these banks. He stated, "The situation complicates our ability to process payments quickly; however, once the vessels arrive at the port of Istanbul, the wage concerns can be addressed instantly." Despite this assurance, the crews of the affected vessels have opted to remain in the Russian port rather than sail to Istanbul, insisting that their payment issues be resolved first. The plight of the seafarers has gained traction, with reports from Rostov media indicating that Leonid Glushak, head of the Rostov Region trade union for seafarers, noted that several Russian crew members from the Riroil - 5 tanker, owned by Palmali, initiated a hunger strike at the port of Azov to demand their overdue salaries.

In a dramatic turn of events at the port of Azov, several Russian crew members from the vessel 'Riroil 5', which has been docked since May 19, 2018, have initiated a hunger strike to protest significant salary arrears amounting to $100,000. The situation is further complicated by the plight of sailors from three additional vessels affiliated with the Turkish shipping company Palmali, who are also facing unpaid wages, with some crew members being owed salaries for up to eight months. Despite daily communication from the ship’s owner, who has made repeated promises to settle the debts, no payments have yet been received. In light of these ongoing issues, the mariners are preparing to take legal actions against Palmali to seek justice for their unpaid wages.