Stranded Russian sailors go on hunger strike in Dubai
Three Russian seamen from a vessel stranded in the port of Dubai began a hunger strike on Friday, an International Transport Workers' Federation official said.
The Magdalena, owned by a German company and flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, has been anchored in Dubai since early August. The vessel's owner reportedly owes the crew $230,000 in wage arrears. Onboard are nine Russians, two Ukrainians, four citizens of the Philippines, and one Estonian.
"The captain of the vessel said that three crew members... went on hunger strike. The vessel's owner has also been informed," Pyotr Osichansky said.
The seamen demand repatriation and the repayment of wage arrears, and refuse to perform their duties.
In early September the crew asked for international aid as they were running out of food and water. A week later two weeks' worth of water supplies, provisions for three weeks, and fuel for 50 days were provided.
A total of 23 Russian sailors are currently in a similar situation on two other vessels - the Piryit bulk carrier, which is stranded near the port of Cristobal in Panama, and the Southern Pearl vessel is anchored off the Bulgarian coast.