Seafarers stranded on a tanker in Malaysia since March have painted an urgent message for help on the vessel's hull.
A photograph shared by the National Union of Seafarers of Peninsular Malaysia (NUSPM) shows the words "Help us. No food. No salary" on the 5,000-dwt Viet Tin 01 (built 1985) in Teluk Ramunia.
Twelve crew members, including the master, have been stuck on the ship for four months.
A Vietnam embassy official told The Star newspaper it was aware of the matter and was working to help the crewmen.
The vessel is listed as operated by Viet Trust Shipping of Vietnam. The company could not be immediately reached by TradeWinds.
Vietnam urged to help crew
NUSPM said conditions on board were deplorable.
The union added that as a signatory to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), Vietnam should access funds from the shipowner’s contribution to its protection and indemnity coverage. It is not known who insures the tanker.
The crew have asked to be repatriated and have back wages paid.
"Their plight is very unfortunate because shortly after they started work, the movement control order (MCO) came into effect and the crew was not able to leave the vessel," the union said.
"Without a salary, they cannot afford to hire a boat to go ashore, and with the MCO in effect, it’s impossible to leave their vessel to seek food or medical aid."
The union supplied the crew with rice and dry foodstuffs on 23 June, accompanied by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
No power
The tanker does not have any fuel and is enduring a power blackout in unbearable heat.
NUSPM said it was trying to contact the vessel owner.
Linh Nguyen, secretary of the Embassy of Vietnam in Malaysia, said the embassy was trying its best to repatriate the men, but there are no flights operating to Vietnam currently.
The embassy said it had managed to contact the vessel owner, who wants to come to Malaysia to solve the problem.
"He has asked us for help," said Nguyen.
The embassy has also provided the crew with money to help them buy food and essential items.
The tanker is classed by the Vietnam Register of Shipping. The Equasis database lists it as laid up.
It has a clean port state control detention record dating back to 2001.
