Albert Napier News

Abandoned Crew Repatriated After Six-Month Ordeal

The majority of the crew of a ship that have gone unpaid and lacking in basic human requirements finally flew home over the weekend. For the last few months nine Pakistani crew onboard a reefer, the MV Belita, have been stranded in Port Victoria in the Seychelles. The crew said they have had no drinking water, food or fuel, meaning that the crew had to sleep on deck due to the lack of light and fresh air, in the end the Port authority installed pilotage lights to protect vessel. The crew also had to collect rain water for drinking water, until the rain ceased. They told how they used their meager savings to buy rice and beans supplemented by fish they themselves caught.