Sandra

The "Benedito" was disabled due to an engine failure west of Gibraltar on Mar 5,2016, in pos. 36 44N 009 08W, while en route from Castellon to Bayonne. The Portuguese tug "Montenevo" (IMO: 9276119) was contracted to assist the vessel and took it in tow on Mar 7 in pos. 36 06N 008 19W towars Cadiz, ETA Mar 8, 2 p.m.

Indonesian workers “stranded” in Newport Port since March due to their shipowner’s unpaid debts will fly home on Thursday. Thirteen men, including two from the Phillipines and Romania, have not been paid in four months and are allegedly owed $250,000. They have lived onboard Italian cargo vessel the Sunflower E since their bankrupt ship was seized on March 10, with no money and dwindling supplies of toiletries including toothpaste, deodorant and shaving foam although authorities provided food and water. But earlier today the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) said they had moved forward in making sure the workers will get their wages, as the Italian liquidators will allow them to seek a court judgment. This means they could be paid when the ship is sold. Ken Fleming, UK and Ireland coordinator from the ITF, said: “The talking is over - we will be pursuing this as aggressively as we can, pushing for the quick sale of the vessel. “The workers will be going home, penniless.” The Italian captain of the ship went home soon after the ship was stopped, along with three other workers who paid their own way, but the remaining crew stayed in the hope of retrieving the money owed them. http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/13349180.Workers_stranded_on_Newport_cargo_ship_to_be_flown_home/

13 Indonesian, Filipino and Romanian crew members of the "Sunflower E" have been stranded in Newport Docks for nearly four months after authorities seized the ship due to unpaid debts. The crew has not been paid in more than four months and was desperate to go home and see their families. There was no hot water and the fridge had broken, and they only had enough fuel to last the week. They have been supplied with food and water by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), but concerns have been raised about the deteriorating conditions onboard. Inspectors from the International Transport Workers Federation were attempting to retrieve wages owed and secure safe passage home for the seafarers. British authorities stopped the vessel due to the owner’s failure to pay a loan to an Italian bank. The ITF had hired professional lawyers to deal with the South Wales court and the Italian bank to ensure that all the crew of the vessel would receive their rights, including their withheld monthly salaries after the bankrupt vessel was resold. Report with photos: http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/13347523.Workers_stranded_on_Newport_cargo_ship_for_nearly_four_months/