A trial on the M/V «Streamline» case postponed to June

An Istanbul Court postponed to June the hearing on possible release of the m/v “Streamline”  (flag of the Comoros Islands, IMO 8866711), according to TASS citing the vessel’s captain, Bakhman Bagirov. The Russian crew – all seafarers are from Rostov-on-Don - remain on board the vessel.  

The seafarers have been in Turkey since last year:  in June the vessel “Streamline” went from Rostov-on-Don to Istanbul for repair and was arrested there. The crew have not received their wages since then. The total amount of debt exceeds $120,000. 

According to the captain,  today he is about to come to court with the lawyer to sign the claim on  back pays before the crew, otherwise the authorities will not accept the statement for consideration. Also, he hopes to fly back home – the ticket is already booked.   

Previously, two seafarers have already signed off from the vessel: the 3d Engineer, a cadet of Department Extramural of Novorossiysk  Maritime State University, was lucky to return home in October, 2018, and the Bosun departed  less than a week ago. They both left the vessel without  being paid off. Desire to reunite with family and friends is understandable, but the seafarers should bear in mind that  chances to get the back wages  are reduced  for those who left the vessel, Seafarers' Union of Russia (SUR) noted.     

Besides,  SUR  warns the seafarers against  joining the vessel “Streamline” as a change. According to the former owner, «Seemann Investitionen Ltd», the vessel was sold to the Turkish company «Аkса Shipping Сorporation», which was known as  «troubled». 

There are currently seven crew members on board the “Streamline”.