VISAKHAPATNAM: A Flag of Convenience (FoC) ship is held up at the port here as the crew- members are on strike, demanding back wages following the intervention of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF).

Under pressure from the London headquarters of the ITF, the owner of the merchant vessel airdashed to the city on Monday.

"With failure to hammer out an amicable solution as per international conventions, I have decided to arrest the vessel in the Admirality Court of the Andhra Pradesh High Court," ITF Inspector B.V. Ratnam told The Hindu on Tuesday. According to informed sources, m.v. Lady Bellinda carrying the flag of North Korea was berthed in West Quay 7 in the Inner Harbour for discharging urea to Coromandel Fertilizers Limited on January 2. After unloading, it was shifted to another berth.

An FOC ship is one that flies the flag of a country other than the nation of ownership to take advantage of cheap registration fees, low or no taxes and freedom to employ cheap labour.

Among the 25-member crew, 14 are from Myanmar, five from Egypt and six from Syria. Nineteen members from Myanmar and Egypt went on strike from January 18. The chief engineer, the captain and other officers belonging to Syria are maintaining the engine.

The crew do not want to work for the vessel anymore as they are under repatriation. Sources said back wages are due from October last and the owner, who is operating two vessels including m.v. Lady Bellinda, bluntly refused to pay overtime charges during the negotiations held on Monday and Tuesday.However, the ITF representatives insisted on payment of wages as per recommendation of International Labour Organisation.

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