Over 50 Russian and Ukrainian crewmembers from the cruise ship Lyubov Orlova are stranded in St. John’s because the vessel owner owes $250,000 to its Canadian charterer, Cruise North Expeditions. The Lyubov Orlova was used during the summer for adventure tourism trips to northern Labrador. No passengers were on the ship when it was arrested.
Canadian officials placed the Russian-owned ship under arrest when it arrived in St. John’s. Crewmembers now living on the ship in St. John’s haven’t been paid their wages for five months. The Russian and Ukrainian crew have remained stranded since September 25.
There are 49 Russians and two Ukrainians working on the cruise vessel. The International Transportation Workers Federation, a union helping the crewmembers, said Thursday that it’s going to court because the vessel’s owner also owes the crew about $300,000 in wages.
Crewmember families back home worry about their loved ones, currently stuck in limbo due to the vessel owner Lyubov Orlova Shipping Company of Malta’s financial problems.
