Seventeen crew members aboard a NewLead Holdings-owned bulker carrying $7m worth of coal said they plan to take legal action in order to be paid $330,000 in back wages. Meanwhile, the ship faces two additional lawsuits in Malaysia over unpaid bills as creditors pick over the remnants of the Greek shipowner.
The 75,966-dwt Newlead Victoria (built 2002) remains at anchor off Singapore since its first arrest at the end of November by a supplier over $189,000 in unpaid bills. German bank Portigon subsequently filed an arrest warrant 14 December, claiming $26.2m in unpaid loans against the ship.
In an email sent Friday to the ship's various claimants, the captain of the Newlead Victoria said his crew will take legal action against NewLead and Portigon with regard to unpaid wages.
"The non-payment of crew wages consists a major (Maritime Labour Convention) violation and we shall deal with it the most suitable way and all authorities shall be informed," according to the email.
Representatives of NewLead and Portigon were unable to comment at press time.
The ship is also the target of two lawsuits also filed Friday. Glander International Bunkering is seeking payment of $62,000 in unpaid bunkering bills. China's Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard has also filed a lawsuit for unspecified work done on the ship.
The Newlead Victoria is carrying 70,000 metric tonnes of coal from Indonesia on behalf of charterer DBC Shipping. A representative of DBC Shipping was not available at press time.
