A crew of Indian sailors trapped in Aberdeen for more than a year after their ship was detained in port have apparently still not been paid hundreds of thousands of pounds in wages owed to them.
The Malaviya Seven was first detained in June 2016, and again in October, after a routine inspection revealed the Indian ship’s crew had not received wages over many months,
A long-running court battle ensued as the Indian firm that owned the ship, GOL Offshore, was placed in administration.
The 12 men on board the ship had been unable to fly home to their families due to fears they could forfeit more than £612,000.
But in September, permission was granted by Aberdeen Sheriff Court for the Malaviya Seven to be sold in order to recoup the wages owed to the crew, with the last of the crew returning home in November.
The sailors had told harrowing tales of how their families were forced to turn to begging and money lenders to keep themselves afloat while their husbands were not being paid.
But, although the ship has since been sold to another firm, it is understood that ongoing court proceedings have delayed payment to the men.
The case will call again at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on January 31 to inform all parties of the sale.
The supply ship still has not been allowed to leave Aberdeen Harbour.
Liam Wilson of the ITF union said: “We are looking at getting the money transferred into an account for them to access.”