OASIS 1

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Crew stranded without salary and water

Five Indian sailors are living aboard the "Oasis 1" in Oman without salary payment or potable water for the last five months while the ship remained berthed at the Duqum Dry Docks. They have not been paid since the ship was brought in for some repairs. The problem of irregular salary payment has been going on for over a year. The biggest problem now was the availability of potable water. The company, after initial problems of food, only has organised for food at the dry dock canteen but there's no potable water on board The Oman Drydock Company (ODC) had initially organised for a water cooler for the crew but since the ship owners have delayed payment to ODC, the cooler was removed. The canteen staff members meanwhile has begun objecting to the crew filling up big jars and taking water on board. Repair work was done a long time ago but the ship cannot sail out as the company owes ODC money. Already during their trip to Yemen, the crew had to beg for food. In some cases they procured food by selling diesel. When the salary was not being paid in Yemen last year, the crew had approached International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) to resolve the issue. The team has only one company-issued mobile phone that can only receive calls. A Muscat-based social worker who is also a member of the Kerala government's Pravasi Welfare Fund Board, brought the predicament of the "Oasis 1" crew to the notice of the Indian embassy and requested them to intervene. The embassy will take up the matter with the company.