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International ship crew detained in Philippines asks for back wages

The shiphas 13 Russian citizens, eight Indian citizens and one citizen of Ukraine on board

KIEV, April 9 (Itar-Tass) - An international crew on board the Veles ship detained in the Philippines might abandon the ship already, but it has stayed on, pending payment of overdue wages to the crew, Acting Director of the information politics department of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Yevgeny Perebeinos told journalists on Tuesday.

The ship detained by the Philippines' coastal guard department after it had been unloaded at Rio-Tuba port, has 13 Russian citizens, eight Indian citizens and one citizen of Ukraine on board. The crew was implicated in incorrectly filled documentation, including the ship's registration certificate and a license to a radio station, the source said.

The crew said it wanted to leave the ship, but it is not ready to do it yet until either the overdue wages are paid or sufficient guarantees are given to the crew, the Ukrainian spokesman said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the Veles cargo ship belonging to the Nerei Shipping company was detained by the local authorities because the ship's documents authorizing its navigation had expired.

The Russian Consular department has been taking all the necessary measures for settlement of the problem and protection of the legitimate rights and interests of the Russian citizens, the Foreign Ministry said. The embassy maintains permanent contact with the ship's captain and crew, the ship owner and the ship's managing company based in Vladovostok, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

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