SEA PEARL I

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Latest news

Ship's oil spill near Fal ferry tackled by clean-up team

An oil spill from a ship moored in the River Fal sparked a speedy clean-up operation to prevent a threat to local wildlife. Staff from Truro's harbour office were called to the scene near the King Harry Ferry at 1.20pm on Tuesday. They used an absorbent boom to encircle the oil which came from the ship Dona Liberta, moored near Tolverne Cottage. Harbour officials have launched an investigation into the cause of the incident and were due to interview the ship's master yesterday. A team of five men pulled the oil-sodden material from the boom and within five hours had filled 20 blue sacks. "Between 70 to 90 gallons of oil have been lost. The oil has been contained and we expect the majority of it to disperse overnight. The fumes will evaporate and pose no threat. More to read at http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Alert-King-Harry-Ferry-oil-leaks-moored-ship/story-15109582-detail/story.html

Watchkeepers of Dona Liberta back home

Two Romanians stranded for months on the "Dona Liberta" which is laid up in the Fal were back with their families for Christmas 2011 thanks to volunteers at the Falmouth Mission to Seafarers. They had been engaged as watch-keepers on the "Dona Liberta" but didn't get paid and had to live in appalling conditions with no electricity or fresh water. Even the food ran out when bills stopped being paid. As Cornwall's various maritime agencies became concerned about the filthy and rundown state of the vessel, the welfare of the crew was investigated. They were provided with a heater, supplies and some pocket money, but they needed to leave the ship urgently for their own health, safety and sanity. After discussions with the Seaman's mission, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency moved in to declare the ship unsanitary and the two men were removed from it. An Admiralty Marshal then arrested the vessel against its owner's debts and put the crew up in a hotel for the duration of the detention. But the pair were reluctant to leave Britain, convinced they would forfeit their wages if they did, so the mission stepped in again and convinced them they could leave and fight their case from home.

Crewmembers taken off laid up ship

The two crew members of the "Dona Liberta" forced to live in cramped, unsanitary conditions with no mains power and wash in rain water have been taken off of the ship which is laid up on the river Fal. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on Oct 31, 2011, issued a prohibition order on the ship, ordering the crew off the vessel. The two men had not been paid for three months and money for supplies had dried up, forcing them to fish for food. They were living in a few small spaces on the ship and had no mains power, relying on vessels which sometimes pulled up alongside for electricity. The ship was laid up in King Harry Reach in June 2011, and the workers on board had been regularly visited by the Mission to Seafarers charity and Truro Harbour Office staff. The two watchmen wanted to stay on the ship and did not want their story highlighted, fearful their wages would not be paid. But the Truro harbour master said the situation became unacceptable as winter drew closer. The workers are now staying in a Falmouth hotel while the International Transport Federation fought for their wages to be paid, though the men possibly will only be receiving their wages when the ship is sold. Report with photos: http://www.falmouthpeople.co.uk/Rescued-Sailors-recovered-vessel-laid-River-Fal/story-13742699-detail/story.html