Malaviya Twenty crew heading home from Great Yarmouth at last 

22 February 2017
David Hannant, Yarmouth Mercury


Crew members of the Malaviya Twenty wave farewell to Great Yarmouth as they prepare to finally go home. Picture: Maurice Gray - copyrighted

An agonising wait has finally come to an end for the crew of the Malaviya Twenty

For months, the crew of the Indian-owned offshore supply vessel had been stranded in Great Yarmouth, but now, they are finally on their way home

The 12-strong crew had been unpaid since July, due to financial issues being suffered by the company that owned it
However, the vessel has since been placed under arrest by the admiralty courts, bringing light to the end of the tunnel for the crew

Photo alongside shows some of the crew getting luggage into minibus, with Captain's help (centre). Copyright Maurice Gray

Yesterday, the big day for the crew arrived, as in the company of Great Yarmouth Port Chaplain Rev Peter Paine and Paul Keenan of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), they set off to Heathrow airport for the long journey home
It was laughter and tears as the crew set off to see their homes and their families for the first time in an agonising eight months

 
Port Chaplain, Rev Peter Paine, said “At last the Indian crew of the Malaviya twenty are free to leave their vessel, and travel home. This has been a long time in coming and a real team work between the Coastguard agencies, ITF and the Chaplaincy at Great Yarmouth Seafarers Centre”

Photo alongside shows the moment the crew were told they would be going home soon. Copyright Maurice Gray

Revd Peter also said “I have made many friends with the crew over the past 9 months, and as they were leaving I had sadness and great joy in my heart for all of them. I and my ship visitor Colin Wooden have spent many hours with them, helping the crew through the depression they went through to the elation of knowing that at last they were going home”

“I would also like to thank the community near and far for the wonderful way in which you all came together to help this crew. A thank you to you all is really not enough, but one thing I can say is that the community around us came together and helped people they did not even know. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH”
 
If you would like to volunteer to be part of the dedicated team at the Great Yarmouth Seafarers Centre supporting our seafarers from all over the world, please call or email:
Rev Peter Paine at portchaplain@keme.co.uk or telephone 07788 111 823