A legal dispute over unpaid wages mean the Malaviya Seven has been “arrested” and is confined to the city’s harbour, leaving the seafarers in limbo.
But thanks to a maritime charity, the Indian nationals were able to savour the behind-the-scenes build-up to Saturday’s showdown with Celtic.
They were taken to the boardroom, got a trackside view of the pitch and a seat in the manager’s dug-out guided tour by club official Alan McKimmie.
The visit was organised by Apostleship of the Sea, whose port chaplain Doug Duncan and national development officer Euan McArthur joined the party.
Mr McArthur said: “We would like to sincerely thank Aberdeen Football Club and Alan McKimmie for their support.”
“It’s a very busy time for the club and they made us all feel extremely welcome. We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon.”
Mr McKimmie added: “It’s clear the crew have had a very tough time of it over the past year or so here in Aberdeen.”
“Anything we can do to help is great and everyone at Aberdeen FC wish them well for the future.”
Owned by Indian company GOL Offshore, the Malaviya Seven was first detained in June amid claims staff members had not received their wages for months while working in the North Sea.
It was allowed to leave the harbour in August after a pay deal was settled. But the ship returned to the Granite City in October and was again prevented from leaving.
An Aberdeen court ordered the arrest of the vessel in March in a bid to recover wages owed to the crew on board the offshore supply vessel.
The unpaid wages total in excess of £500,000.
If GOL cannot pay up, lawyers will ask the court to order its sale to raise funds for the crew.
Supporters hope that a sale will happen within the coming weeks.
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Source: Energy Voice
