Seventeen crew had been abandoned on the vessel off Algeria without pay or provisions since July last year.

All but two have now been fully paid and repatriated. Two Indian seafarers were paid but opted to remain onboard.

The crew were owed a total of $151,000 in back pay, which was met by the owner, Turkey’s Vera Shipping.

ITF inspector Mohamed Arrach-edi said: “Their [the crew’s] patience and resolution has paid off, and we all appreciate the help given to them by Algerian trade unions, the port authority of Algiers Port and the embassies of India and Turkey.