FreeSeas will intensify its efforts to repatriate 22 seafarers on a laid-up bulker who started a hunger strike earlier this week.
An executive from the company told TradeWinds he has been in constant communication with the crew and creditors in order to find a solution.
The 30,838-dwt Free Neptune (built 1996) has been in hot lay up off the port of Sohar, Oman, since June.
It concluded its last charter in April and was then drifting in the region for two months trying to secure a new hire.
This was not possible due to the depressed market and Ion Varouxakis-led FreeSeas decided to idle the ship.
The seafarers on the vessel claim they have not been paid for up to 11 months, while they have spent as much as 15 months on it.
They started the hunger strike on Monday.
