The ZES Pilot, a cargo ship owned by a Finnish company, has been stuck in a Dutch port for several weeks, with crew members reporting unpaid wages. A Finnish-Cameroonian crew member indicated he is owed nearly €10,000. The vessel is operated by R-B Maritime Oy, a company owned by two Finnish businessmen who are not well-known and have faced financial difficulties, including multiple payment defaults.
The crew has contracts with Valmex Oy, a Finnish company predominantly owned by a Norwegian citizen, which lacks a business address in Finland. Valmex has not responded to inquiries regarding the situation. Crew members, including Ukrainian national Anatolii Popov and mechanic René Mbafut, expressed frustration over the lack of provisions and the ship’s puzzling arrival without cargo after unloading steel in Germany.
The ship’s captain has abandoned the vessel, taking communication equipment, while Dutch authorities have towed the ZES Pilot to a remote location. R-B Maritime denies any responsibility for unpaid wages, claiming the crew misbehaved. Under maritime law, if wages are unpaid, insurance or the flag state, Finland, must ensure payment. This incident reflects a broader issue, as over 3,000 maritime workers faced similar situations globally in 2024.
