Heinaste crew appeal for help
Former crew of the controversial factory ship say Tunacor ignored them after taking over the vessel.
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
Former crew members of the Heinaste fishing vessel, which formerly belonged to Icelandic fishing company Samherji, have accused new owners Tunacor Fishing of side-lining them.
Tunacor recently bought the vessel in a deal worth US$18 million (N$270 million) after the government could no longer afford the upkeep of the impounded vessel. The vessel is now undergoing sea trials after being in dry dock since its seizure last November.
The former crew members accused the company's top brass of nepotism, saying Tunacor management had only considered family and friends for positions on the vessel.
A crew member, speaking to Namibian Sun on condition of anonymity, accused Tunacor of using the credentials of the now unemployed crew in its application for fishing quotas.
“We are the legitimate crew members with existing contracts for the vessel. We were thrown out by certain people who are employing their friends and families,” the worker said.
The worker alleged that Tunacor was in possession of a list of crew members that were formerly employed on the Heinaste but ignored it.
“The crew list is there but they want to replace us with new crew members. None of us was contacted before the vessel sailed. We want clarity from the general manager of Tunacor, the minister of fisheries and the minister of labour. This is betrayal,” the source said.
The crew members had written to government officials, asking that they be considered for employment when the vessel sailed again.
Tunacor denies
Peya Hitula, general manager of Tunacor Fishing, denied the allegation, saying Tunacor had not been contacted by the Heinaste's former crew members.
Hitula said Tunacor was aware that certain Heinaste crew members had been retrenched but that it had been done in line with accepted labour practices. “There were crew members that were retrenched according to normal labour practices. The vessel took on new crew members since a year and a half ago,” Hitula said.
Hitula also denied the claim that Tunacor was awarded a quota based on an old crew list submitted.
“We are going to catch with our own quota. The fish we will catch, we own the quota,” he said.
Hitula, whose company had acquired the vessel in a deal with the office of the attorney-general, also denied allegations that the deal favoured previous owners Samherji.
“We are not working through Samherji. The fish we catch is the quota that belongs to us. We are going to use that vessel to fulfil the quota,” Hitula said.
The vessel is expected to be ready by December, Hitula said.
WINDHOEK
Former crew members of the Heinaste fishing vessel, which formerly belonged to Icelandic fishing company Samherji, have accused new owners Tunacor Fishing of side-lining them.
Tunacor recently bought the vessel in a deal worth US$18 million (N$270 million) after the government could no longer afford the upkeep of the impounded vessel. The vessel is now undergoing sea trials after being in dry dock since its seizure last November.
The former crew members accused the company's top brass of nepotism, saying Tunacor management had only considered family and friends for positions on the vessel.
A crew member, speaking to Namibian Sun on condition of anonymity, accused Tunacor of using the credentials of the now unemployed crew in its application for fishing quotas.
“We are the legitimate crew members with existing contracts for the vessel. We were thrown out by certain people who are employing their friends and families,” the worker said.
The worker alleged that Tunacor was in possession of a list of crew members that were formerly employed on the Heinaste but ignored it.
“The crew list is there but they want to replace us with new crew members. None of us was contacted before the vessel sailed. We want clarity from the general manager of Tunacor, the minister of fisheries and the minister of labour. This is betrayal,” the source said.
The crew members had written to government officials, asking that they be considered for employment when the vessel sailed again.
Tunacor denies
Peya Hitula, general manager of Tunacor Fishing, denied the allegation, saying Tunacor had not been contacted by the Heinaste's former crew members.
Hitula said Tunacor was aware that certain Heinaste crew members had been retrenched but that it had been done in line with accepted labour practices. “There were crew members that were retrenched according to normal labour practices. The vessel took on new crew members since a year and a half ago,” Hitula said.
Hitula also denied the claim that Tunacor was awarded a quota based on an old crew list submitted.
“We are going to catch with our own quota. The fish we will catch, we own the quota,” he said.
Hitula, whose company had acquired the vessel in a deal with the office of the attorney-general, also denied allegations that the deal favoured previous owners Samherji.
“We are not working through Samherji. The fish we catch is the quota that belongs to us. We are going to use that vessel to fulfil the quota,” Hitula said.
The vessel is expected to be ready by December, Hitula said.
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