VLADIVOSTOK, October 23 (RIA Novosti) - Six of the 11 Russian seamen from a cargo ship stranded off Panama's coast since April will fly to Russia on Friday, an International Transport Workers' Federation official said.
The Panama-flagged Piruit bulk freighter with 11 Russian sailors on board has been stranded since it ran ground while crossing the Panama Canal. The sailors have received no wages since, and are reportedly running low on food supplies. On Wednesday a court in Panama ordered for the vessel to be impounded.
If the ship's owner fails to settle the dispute with the sailors amicably and to pay them over $300,000 in wage arrears, the vessel will be auctioned off, Pyotr Osichansky said.
He said that the demand for vessels has recently been low, but even if Piruit goes under hammer at the price of scrap metal the money would be enough to cover wage arrears.
Five of the sailors, including the captain, have said they did not want to return home until they receive their salaries.
