Two Tanzanian stowaways claim they were thrown off a Chinese bulker off South Africa because the crew feared they had coronavirus.
The men were found washed up on a beach earlier this month in KwaZulu-Natal after allegedly being abandoned by the 61,000-dwt Top Grace (built 2016), which has been detained at Richards Bay since March.
The vessel's master and six crew have appeared before Durban magistrates charged with attempted murder.
The captain, chief officer, third officer, chief engineer, first and second engineers and bosun had bail set at ZAR 20,000 ($1,075) each, and were confined to the ship.
They were due to appear again on Friday in Durban. Their travel documents have been seized, according to the SA People website.
Authorities said the African men had climbed up the bulker's anchor chain in Durban.
They were later found hiding under a pile of canvas in a locker room.
The pair told police they were seeking a better life.
Three days adrift
The master allegedly decided not to quarantine them or turn the ship around, but halted the bulker and put the pair into a "makeshift" life raft with bottles of water and life jackets.
They were left in shark-infested waters, with no food and no sight of land, they said.
The men spent three days and two nights adrift, before washing up on a beach.
Covid-19 test results were being awaited for both the accused crew and the stowaways, who had been treated for exposure.
Operator Fairweather Steamship of Hong Kong told TradeWinds earlier this week it had no further information on the incident.
The bulker is classed by Lloyd's Register and insured by the West of England protection and indemnity club.
