Seven Kenyan sailors have been stranded at the Port of Kaohsiung in Taiwan, when their fishing vessel Myung Sun 727, broke down in October last year. They were part of a multinational crew made up of five Koreans, three Vietnamese, two Nepalese and a Chinese.
“The Kenyan sailors were abandoned and have been waiting for assistance from the owner of the vessel, identified as Yu Shin Fishery Company. Other crew members have gone home. The health of some is deteriorating,” said Seafarers Association east Africa coordinator Andrew Mwangura
Ahmed Athumani, Andrew Anich, Julius Kutoyi, Rashid Amir Amran, Ali Athuman Dumbo, Michael Wanga Oduori and Hemed Zula Mwandilo are demanding US$17,866 (Sh1.3million) salaries arrears and free passage home. Mwangura said he has been in contact with Ahmed Athumani, a supervisor who has worked with the company for more than three years.
“We are appealing to Kenya government to put pressure to South Korea and Taiwan authority to intervene and rescue the seven," he said. Mwangura said they have been unable to contact the owner of the ship. "The ship owner has gone underground and name changed," he said.
Source:The Star
