The stranded crew of an abandoned support vessel have been introduced to the visceral world of Scottish football.
Sailors aboard the Indian ship, Malaviya Seven, have been marooned in Aberdeen Harbour since last October, when their boat was detained under merchant shipping regulations.
The vessel’s owners, GOL Offshore, was accused of failing to pay the crew’s wages and have subsequently gone into liquidation.
It has left about a dozen men stuck in the nortgh-east harbour until they can recoup their losses and return to their families.
On Saturday, however, they were given a boost when Peterhead FC invited all the remaining crew in Scotland to the club’s Irn Bru Cup game against Annan.
Describing it as the least the club could do to lift the spirits of the men, Peterhead’s general manager, Martin Johnston, said he hoped their attendance would also bring his side some luck.
And Peterhead went on to win the game 2-0 to progress to the next round of the competition.
Mr Johnston said: “Having seen the predicament of the Malaviya Seven in the local news, and a subsequent conversation with our club chaplain Neil Cameron, it was felt the very least we could do is provide an opportunity for the seamen to get away from the ship for the day.
“It’s a very small gesture in the scope of things.”
Howard Drysdale, Aberdeen Port Chaplain, said the crew had been “delighted” to accept the hospitality of the town.
Last month, the crew spoke of their plight.
Bamadev Swain, who is aboard the ship, said: “When my daughter asks my wife ‘when is papa coming?’, it is really painful for me.”
He and his colleagues are owed £668,000 by their former employer.
It is hoped that the sale of the ship, which is currently being valued, will be enough to get them home.
