The master of a NewLead Holdings-owned bulker says 12 seafarers have left the ship amid ongoing uncertainty as to payment of back wages and who is responsible for the ship during its arrest by Malaysian authorities.

The 75,966-dwt Newlead Victoria (built 2002) was arrested off Singapore 26 November by Ningbo-based Better Marine, which had claims of $189,000 in unpaid bills against the ship. Western Standard Ship Supplies also arrested the vessel over $47,000 in unpaid bills. Glander Bunkering and Zhoushan Xinya have also made claims on the ship for unpaid bills.

Meanwhile, the mortgagee, the London branch of the German bank Portigon, also moved to arrest the ship 14 December over some $26.2m in unpaid debt.

Better Marine had been providing the Victoria with supplies and stores during its arrest while crewing agency Interorient has paid some costs of repatriating the crew. Better Marine released its arrest of the ship last week.

According to Christopher & Lee Ong, the law firm representing Better Marine and other creditors, Portigon's solicitor Skrine is asking for an order that the German bank take over the arrest.

'Not properly manned.'

But in an email, the Victoria's master said the 12 seafarers left the ship "because owners and Portigon have abandoned us." The master said repeated attempts to contact the bank were unsuccessful.

A representative of Portigon was unavailable to comment.

He said the much of the crew "had gone into depression and mental instability due to this situation."

The ship's engine is said to be malfunctioning and there are also problems with anchor dragging. Four seafarers remain on board the Victoria, but the captain acknowledges that the crew levels are below what is required for safe manning rules.

The captain says he plans to tell the flag state and the Victoria's insurers that "this ship is not properly manned."

The ship is flagged to the Liberian Registry. American Club provides the P&I coverage, while Gard covers the hull.

The ship is carrying $7m worth of coal on behalf of charterer DBC Shipping. A representative of DBC Shipping was not available to comment.

This article has been amended to reflect that the Newlead Victoria crew remains unpaid.