VLADIVOSTOK, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - The Far Eastern department of Russia's seamen trade union is to seek assistance of a local prosecutor's office in helping the crew of a debt ship to obtain their wages, a trade union spokesman said on Wednesday.
Fourteen Russian seamen, who worked at the Igor Belyansky vessel, informed their trade union that they were stranded in China after their employer had sold the ship in the southern Chinese port of Beihai. The vessel's owner reportedly owes the crew $100,000 in wage arrears.
Several days later the crew was repatriated to Russia with the help of Russian authorities and diplomats, but did not receive their wages.
"The vessel has already been sold to another company and there is not many ways to persuade the employer [to repay debts]. Probably the Russian authorities, who assisted in repatriation, would help in returning the money," the source said.
