Post by : Meena Rani

Seafarers on Bulker Stuck in Nigeria for Three Months Without Wages

A bulk carrier’s crew has been stranded in Nigeria for over three months without receiving their wages, raising serious concerns about seafarers’ rights and welfare.

The men remain stuck on board the vessel with little clarity on when they will be paid or repatriated. Many are running short of basic necessities and say their mental and emotional state is deteriorating as uncertainty drags on.

Family members, who only recently learned of the situation, have started appealing for support. Maritime unions and crew welfare groups have also stepped in, demanding urgent action from the ship’s operators and relevant authorities.

The vessel’s management has cited procedural and financial challenges as reasons for the delay in resolving the issue. However, crew members believe these explanations are merely stalling tactics and fear their ordeal may continue without external intervention.

This incident has once again highlighted long-standing problems in the shipping industry, where seafarers are often left vulnerable to wage disputes, poor working conditions, and lack of proper support when stranded abroad.

Observers stress that unless immediate steps are taken, the crew could face further hardship, both physically and mentally, while their families remain in distress back home.

shipping, seafarers, unpaid wages, Nigeria, crew welfare, maritime law, stranded crew, labor crisis