NELSON - Three Russian and Ukrainian seamen are stranded in Nelson, owed thousands of dollars in pay and stuck on a fishing boat which is too badly damaged to put to sea.
Two of the men do not have work permits, which means they cannot look for other jobs, and theyare too broke to afford airfares home.
Their problems began in September when their fishing boat Komtek II suffered engine damage when its propeller became entangled in a net.
The ship was towed back to Port Nelson for repairs and has been there since, with a lack of funds apparently delaying the work.
The rest of the 17 crew, some of whom were New Zealanders, have left.
The remaining crew; master Alexander Syskov, electronic engineer Vladimir Ugrinovich and electrical engineer Vladimir Mamushkin said they were assured they would continue to be paid $400 a week each while in port, but had received only a few payments.
Mr Syskov, from Russia, and Mr Ugrinovich, from Ukraine, said they could not afford to fly home, but were not allowed to look for other work because they did not have work permits.
Mr Mamushkin is a New Zealand resident, based in Auckland.
