Filipinos stranded for months heading home; debt ship auctioned

The Newlead Castellano was seized by US Marshals. SHIPSPOTTING

SAVANNAH, Georgia — A legal battle over debt has left a cargo ship and its 15-member crew stuck off the coast of Georgia for nearly four months. They should go home soon. The ship was sold at auction Monday.

U.S. marshals seized the Newlead Castellano in mid-April after it sailed into Savannah to offload a shipment of imported sugar. A judge ordered the ship idled while creditors sued the ship’s owner, saying they were owed $7.1 million.

That left the crew of mostly Filipino sailors confined to the 590-foot vessel because they lacked visas allowing them to come ashore.

The ship’s first officer, Cecilio Calo Yting, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the crew is well, though he complained of boredom. He said they have been well fed. Their only request was to have a priest come to the ship regularly for religious service, according to Splash247.—Ed.]