Seafarers on a FreeSeas bulk carrier have started a hunger strike as they protest over unpaid wages.
The crew of the 30,838-dwt Free Neptune (built 1996) have not received their wages for up to 11 months, an e-mail sent to TradeWinds claims.
FreeSeas’s Liberia-flagged bulker has been anchored off the port of Sohar, Oman, since June.
The crew said the shipowner has ignored payment and repatriation requests since the summer.
The 22 men have been on the ship for between eight to 15 months.
Another e-mail sent from a crewman in late November suggests that FreeSeas owns a total sum of $0.5m.
Running out of supplies, the seafarers have gone on a hunger strike since Monday.
They have taken to fishing to help feed themselves over the previous months.
The crew added they have also lost connection with their families and they can only use their personal phone devices.
An executive from FreeSeas was not in the office due to today’s strike in Greece.
TradeWinds has also sought comment from the company through an e-mail earlier this morning.
Ion Varouxakis-controlled FreeSeas disclosed two short-term charters for the Free Neptune in September and October last year.
