AFTER more than six months detained at Sharpness Dock over concerns including unpaid wages and a lack of drinking water, a cargo ship has been released.

Detained by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in June due to 12 ‘deficiencies’ identified by inspectors, Tahsin has been manned by three different crews during its time in Sharpness.

Owned by Turkish firm Voda Denizcilik and Panamanian-flagged, Tahsin was given a conditional release on December 17 allowing it to return to Gemtis shipyard in Istanbul not carrying cargo to address its issues.

Amongst the issues found by Cardiff-based inspectors in June was faulty ventilation, wages not being paid and missing charts.

During the vessel’s detainment, the three crews which have been based on the ship over the six month period have been supported by the charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS).

Several times a week, AoS representatives have visited the ship bringing them baked goods, fresh produce and transport into Berkeley to use its facilities.

The crew has also received regular visits from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

ITF inspector Darren Proctor said some of the original crew had not been paid since September and October 2016 when Tahsin was detained.

He said: “There were many findings onboard including evidence of the crew drinking seawater as there was no potable water on the ship for over ten days, out of date food, non-operational galley equipment and a genuine concern over the labour practices. 

“The master thought it was acceptable to pay the crew every three months and not keep wage accounts.”

An MCA spokeswoman confirmed that Tahsin was released on December 17 on the condition that it could only make one direct voyage in ballast condition from Sharpness to Istanbul where its remaining deficiencies should be finished.

Twelve deficiencies (inoperative ventilation, an invalid employment agreement, damaged cargo and hatchways, incorrectly paid wages, expired lifesaving equipment and missing publications and charts) were found with eight deemed to be grounds for the ship’s detention.