The captain of MT Pratibha Warna has urged the owners of the Pratibha Shipping Company to supply required quantities of lube oil and diesel within next few days, failing which he would be forced to abandon the vessel.
In a letter written to promoters, Ajay Thiruvengadam said: “If the vessel is not supplied with required quantities of lube oil and diesel oil, as Master I will not have any recourse than to abandon the ship as the diesel oil quantity will last only for a week. Despite repeated appeals …as Master, I will be forced to take this step to safeguard the lives of all on board.”
The vessel is in the outer anchorage of Chennai Port Trust since October 13. The crew has been waging a war against the management for non-payment of salary since July 2012.
Members of the Chennai Seafarers Port Welfare Committee supplied 25 cans of drinking water recently. The representatives of Seafarers Club said the owners were yet to respond to the letter, but added that the shipping company’s representatives/agents would be in the city soon to resolve the issues concerning Pratibha Warna and Pratibha Cauvery.
