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INLSA
Sprite Zungu, centre, in maroon jersey, a Durban inspector from the International Transport Workers Federation, and 19 of the 26 crew members of the Lanka Mahapola stand in front of their cargo ship at the Durban Harbour. Picture: Sbonelo Ngcobo
About $85 000 (R708 900) was delivered by Durban port security to the crew of the detained cargo vessel, Lanka Mahapola, on Thursday.
The crew will finally be heading back to Sri Lanka on Friday after the arrest of the ship was provisionally lifted so they could receive their outstanding wages.
Sprite Zungu, an International Transport Workers’ Federation Durban inspector, said the 26-man crew were happy to receive the money.
“Plane tickets back to Sri Lanka have also been booked, and they will be heading back (on Friday),” he said.
The ship was detained by the SA Maritime Safety Authority on May 17 because it allegedly did not comply with international safety standards.
On Wednesday, Nalini Maharaj, a lawyer representing the vessel’s owner, Dr Sanjaya Sedara, called the Durban High Court to provisionally postpone the arrest of the ship until the crew had been paid, and the repair costs and legal charges had been cleared. After that the court will formally lift the arrest.
Earlier this month, the crew were granted their application by the Durban High Court to have the vessel auctioned.
Zungu said the lawyers from both sides had gone to court and presented arguments regarding their application to have the vessel auctioned so that with the proceeds, the crew could get their outstanding wages.
laea.medley@inl.co.za
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