Bulgarian sailors set to return home

Thirteen Bulgarian sailors who were held locked in an Indian hotel after the owner of their ship failed to reach an agreement with a local businessman, are finally free to return home, the private Bulgarian television channel bTV reported.
The crew of the Bulgarian merchant ship Ludogorets will depart from India for Istanbul on October 28 2010.They are due to return to Bulgaria the following day.
The sailors were detained at an Indian port, where the ship was to be sold for scrap. Reportedly, the crew members were held as hostages over the unsettled deal between the ship's owner and an Indian businessman.
The sailors have had problems with their working conditions while on board Ludogorets. Moreover, they were not paid regularly, and even lacked adequate food supply. Furthermore, those problems have apparently been for years, but the naval administration office was unable to assist, bTV reported.
The crew had spent three days locked in a hotel. They were unable to leave or call their families.
The manager of the company that owns the vessel was unavailable for comment, according to the Sofia Echo.

Source: Transportweekly