The captain and two crew from a stranded casino vessel have been arrested in Hong Kong after a fight over a can of coffee.
Local media said Ukrainian master Valeriy Lyzhyn, 63, and two Chinese colleagues were held on Thursday on the 12,600-gt cruiseship New Imperial Star (built 1980).
All 46 crew have been stuck on the vessel for six months after it failed safety checks.
With tensions running high, an anonymous source told the South China Morning Post the crew are becoming "impatient and edgy". They are also fighting for back wages.
A source close to the ship’s owner, Arising International Holdings, was cited as saying it could consider suspending the captain, pending police investigations.
Lyzhyn was arrested for assault, along with a 19-year-old Chinese kitchen helper and a 24-year-old stewardess.
The owner had sent a supply of food, including six cans of coffee.
Ukrainian crew normally receive four of these, with one each for Chinese and Myanmarese staff.
Police confirmed Lyzhyn and the kitchen helper sustained injuries to the head and face, respectively.
Arising International had previously told enquiring media that it was seeking additional funding in China.
