In April 2010, the VLCC Samho Dream was hijacked by Somali pirates. On board at the time were 24 seafarers…19 Filipino, and 5 South Koreans. Later that year, the ship and her $170M cargo of Valero crude oil was released at a ransom of $9M.
Last October however, the ill-fated vessel was held at anchor by authorities due to non-payment of bank loans and the ship was subsequently auctioned off this past January. According to a Marine News China report, a significant detail was left out at the time of the auction… the crew on board had at least $100,000 in unpaid wages outstanding.
Neither the ship management company (Thome Ship Management) or the new shipowner is currently willing to pay the outstanding wages…