PETALING JAYA: The remaining five crew members of the stranded offshore support vessel MV Berkat Tuah have returned home safely after being stranded for months at Hamriyah Port in Dubai.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman said the crew arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 9am yesterday after being allowed to disembark from the vessel on July 18 following continued engagement by the Consulate General of Malaysia in Dubai with the Sharjah authorities and the Malaysian Marine Department.
“Prior to their return, the Consulate General conducted several consular visits to the stranded crew members to ensure their welfare and safety,” the ministry said in a statement.
It also expressed appreciation to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government for its assistance in facilitating the crew’s safe return.
“The ministry, through its diplomatic missions abroad, remains committed to ensuring that the welfare of Malaysians overseas is safeguarded at all times,” it said.
The five crew members are Capt Hendi Irawan, 45, from Jakarta, Indonesia; Mohamad Luqman Yahaya, 31, from Felda Kerteh, Terengganu; Mark Martin, 39, from Sarawak; and Mohd Shah Rizan Rahman, 33, and Mohd Fariduddin Muhamad Jainudin, 26, both from Sabah.
The vessel had been stranded at the port since October following a complex commercial dispute and financial crisis involving a Singapore-based company that detained the ship, leaving the operating company without sufficient funds to pay the crew or finance their return home.
Four other Malaysian crew members returned in April.
In a related development, the Malaysian Marine Department has set up a special task force to coordinate claims for the outstanding wages of the 13 crew members.
Its director-general Datuk Dickson Dollah said the crew were still owed six months’ salary and that the department’s priority was to ensure the company operating the vessel fulfilled its obligations.
“We will immediately engage the company to expedite the claims process.
“What we can do for the time being is advance part of their outstanding wages, while the remaining balance will be claimed from the company,” he told reporters after arriving at KLIA with the five crew members.
Dickson said the advance payment would be channelled through cooperation between the National Union of Seafarers Peninsular Malaysia and the Central Fund for Maritime Trade before the remaining arrears are recovered from the company.
He said the vessel became stranded after a contract secured by the local operating company in the UAE was cancelled following the Middle East crisis.
According to Dickson, about 410 vessels remain stranded because of the conflict, affecting some 6,000 seafarers worldwide.
“This does not involve only Malaysia. Many seafarers from around the world remain stranded there and are facing the same problems,” he said.
Meanwhile, when met, Mark said his immediate priority is spending time with his family after being away from home for months.
He also expressed gratitude to Dickson, crediting him with giving the crew hope when they were close to giving up.
“Today, he fulfilled his commitment to bring us home to Malaysia. We are truly grateful,” he said.
