VietNamNet Bridge – Confirming to leave the ship after three days to save their lives, New Horizon's 20-member crew did sign an "ultimatum" to Vinashin ocean transportation company (Vinashinlines), asking for an emergency rescue.

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The New Horizon.

The letter was sent on May 13 in the urgency and fear of the sailors. They desired to be repatriated immediately because the situation in Karachi (Pakistan) – where the ship is anchored - is unstable due to a civil war.

According to the crew, the site where the ship is anchored has very strong wind at night and there are a lot of wrecks around the ship. In the current situation when the ship does not have oil to run the machine in emergency situations, the crews will have no exits.

"Since there is no fuel to run the machine, the ship lost power completely (no water, no light, no signal, no power for cooking). And the most important thing is the communication system to the shore by VHF and INM-C is completely paralyzed, including the marine weather forecast in 48 hours," the sailors said.

Although the maritime industry leaders and the Vinashin ocean transportation company (Vinashinlines) had confirmed of the provision of monthly living allowances for the ships that are detained abroad, but by May 13, the New Horizon’s sailors said they did not receive the allowances for May.

According to the crew, most of the board members were on board over the contract term. Particularly, some of them were on the ship for 18 months but they just received three months of salary. Most of them were not paid for six months or more.

The ship has even blocked by local police. The crew members are not allowed from leaving the ship since the ship arrived in Karachi on November 9, 2012.

The ship crew confirmed: "We have endured our best. We have almost lived nearly independently on a desert island without electricity, oil, water and no food. And 20 crew members have decided to abandon the ship to preserve our lives after three days if the parties concerned have not responded."

Earlier, New Horizon's crew and several other ships that were detained overseas sent many letters home asking for help.

The transport sector’s officials said with the VND200 billion ($4 million) loan approved by the government, the immediate difficulties and the resources to provide monthly meals for sailors will be solved. Particularly, the problem of unpaid wages and the repatriation of crews will be solved when the ships are sold, expected by the end of June 2013.

A Vinalines’ official on May 16 confirmed that $8,100 was already transferred to the sailors in Karachi.

Captain of the New Horizon – Mr. Tran Sy Dong, also said that Vinashinlines had sent to Karachi the living allowances of $8,100 but the cash has not reached the sailor because they could not get to shore to take it. However, according to Dong, the amount is only enough for food and water, not for oil.

According to Dan Tri’s sources, the ship New Phoenix - one of the seven ships of Vinashinlines anchoring overseas was sold but the source did not disclose the price.

New Phoenix has a tonnage of 9,606 DWT, Panama citizenship, anchored in Dalian - China from September 2012 with 15 sailors.

Dan Tri