Foreign Crewmen Rescued in Bangkok
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Twelve Chinese and Myanmar crewmen aboard a cargo ship stranded on the Chao Phraya River were rescued yesterday.

Rachen Rangmarerng, head of the Port Authority of Thailand's labour union, said the crewmen, seven of who were Chinese, were starving and dehydrated.

Rachen jointly led the rescue on the Li Jia 8 with former MP Paveena Hongsakul. The crewmen will receive medical treatment before being paid and repatriated, Rachen said.

Rachen said some of the men lodged a petition with the Port Authority of Thailand complaining about being left stranded on the ship, which was abandoned by its Chinese owner after he became indebted to several fishery operators. As a result, the owner did not pay the crewmen for several months and did not replenish the ship's fuel or food supplies.

The crewmen told police they decided to dock the ship near Wat Pariwas in Bangkok's Yannawa district, as they did not know what else to do. They were afraid they were going to be arrested by police for running the ship without permission.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Foreign-Crewmen-Rescued-in-Bangkok-30258545.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-23

Where is the Chinese owner ?

Get the bar steward, put him on his ship and tell him to get to out of Thai waters, after suitable reparation of course.

The ship was abandonded by it's Chinese owner..? Does this mean the ship now belongs to the crew..if they claim salvage-rights on it..?

Indebted to fishery owners..? Is there any part of the fishing industry here that does not smell fishy?

You bring up an interesting point of Admiralty law. This is a gray area to say the least. As it is already in port salvage would be difficult as the vessel itself is not abandoned "at sea" or in danger of sinking. However, If abandonment is confirmed by the authorities then the vessel can be sold by the crew for back wages. In this case, even scrap value would get everyone of the crew paid one would assume. Now as to the fishery debtors they may make claim on the vessel but under most maritime law the crew is compensated first then debtors afterward, even banks.