Stranded Russian sailors go on hunger strike in Vietnam

Russian sailors stuck in Vietnam went on a hunger strike on Monday demanding to be returned home and payment of salaries for the past eight months, an International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) inspector said.

We are launching a hunger strike until we get paid our salaries and return home," Pyotr Osichansky quoted the crews of the Phuhai-1 and Phuhai-7 fishing vessels, all residents of the Far East, as saying in an address.

The crews of another five vessels flying the flags of Belize and Vietnam are facing similar difficulties.

Osichansky said the crews of the two Phuhai vessels appealed to the ITF and to the Seafarers' Union of Russia in the summer, after which some of the crew members returned home, and some sailors were left onboard.

In the summer, the owner of the ships said his company was having financial problems over the global economic crisis, but pledged measures to pay the arrears as soon as possible.