Crew of MV LEILA Finally freed from Somaliland

CREW OF MV LEILA FINALLY FREED FROM SOMALILAND by Venatrix Fulmen (ECOP-marine)
The rump-crew of three Sri Lankans and two Pakistani nationals which was held with the vessel MV LEILA inside the Berbera harbour entangled in a legal tussle involving burned cargo on her sister ship MV MARIAM STAR has finally been freed today on Monday and could board a plane to Nairobi, where they will arrive this evening.
Mr. Mohamed Ghadeeb of Abu Dhabi, who stands accused as the vessel’s owner and who is behind Al Hufoof Shipping and another company named New Port Shipping – fronting as the owner-managers of these vessels – did never even go to Somaliland  to solve the problems his shipping company has with a court ruling subjecting him to pay damages, fines as well as harbour and court charges. That he first of all abandoned the crew of MV LEILA for all that time they were stranded since August last year with their ship on a court-chain, a conning Somali port authority and an obvious ignorant governance is not taken lightly.
THE SHIPOWNER ABANDONED THE CREW AND IS NOW BLACKLISTED
Though all crew members had resigned from the company since long, they were illegally held by the General Manager of the Port Authority of Berbera and forced to take care of the vessel – a situation, which only can be described as hostage situation and slave labour enforced on an expatriate crew – a situation which tarnishes the reputation of Somaliland seriously.
The clandestine companies and their ships at the core of the case have in the meantime been blacklisted and every seafarer is aware which trouble he can get himself into, if he would accept to work for that owner – word in the harbours travels fast.
DEADLOCK BROKEN
ECOTERRA Intl., who had been requested to help by the crew and their governments, thanked the tireless efforts of the Governments of Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which together with their missions in Nairobi and Dubai and all concerned parties stood together to finally free all the expat crew.
Seven Indian nationals had been channelled out of Somaliland, though the Indian High Commissioner, who first had taken the diplomatic lead, had promised to achieve a release of the whole crew together.
STILL GRIEVANCES
Meanwhile these seven Indians are stuck at home with not only their wages for over six month not paid, but with a bill which was slapped on them from their own ministry, claiming the air-travel costs and restricting the seafarers from seeking any further work until the Indian government gets back these monies.
It is hoped that all the governments involved will show now some further support and assist their seafarers to receive their full payments and dues from the shipowner, who let them suffer for so long.