HAVANA, October 3 (RIA Novosti) - Russian sailors, who have been stranded in Panama since early April, are unable to come ashore "for financial reasons," the vessel's captain told RIA Novosti on Sunday.
"A special permit is required to leave the ship and to visit the port... which is impossible for us under the present conditions," Vladimir Verevkin said.
The Panama-flagged Piruit vessel, with 11 Russian seamen onboard, ran aground while crossing the Panama Canal. The company which repaired the vessel's front part, damaged in the accident, seized the ship in the port of Colon, but released it after payments have been made.
Both the vessel's owner, registered in the British Virgin Islands, and the Vladivostok-based management company currently refuse to pay $25,000 in maintenance costs and $110,000 in wage arrears. The companies also refuse to pay $50,000 to renew the permit allowing the vessel to fly the flag of Panama.
Electricity at the ship has been cut off since August 20.
"For about 20-25 days we have been using rainwater for cooking. We eat mainly vegetables; we are unable to store meat as electricity had been cut off," the captain said.
A spokesman for the Russian embassy in Panama has earlier said it was negotiating with all the parties to the conflict.
