Stranded Novo Ruivo Crew in Cape Verde Finally Paid and Repatriated
After more than six months of being stranded and abandoned in a foreign port, 12 crew members from the fishing vessel Novo Ruivo are finally heading home with their hard-earned wages in hand. The group, consisting of seven Angolans and five Indonesians, had been stuck in Mindelo, Cape Verde, since late 2025.
A “Happy Ending” After Months of Limbo
Angolan Ambassador to Cape Verde, Agostinho Tavares, confirmed to news agency Lusa that the Spanish shipowner has finally settled the outstanding debts. “I witnessed the handover of the overdue salaries, which were more than a year late, and the passports that were held by the shipowner,” Tavares said.
The repatriation process is already underway. Three Angolan sailors departed on Wednesday, while the remaining four—along with the five Indonesian workers—are scheduled to fly home this Friday. “The shipowner fulfilled his obligations, and I believe this is a happy ending for everyone,” the diplomat added.
A “Horrific” Situation for Families
The crew’s ordeal began in late 2025 when the Portuguese-flagged vessel was docked in São Vicente. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) previously described the situation as “horrific,” noting that the men had been abandoned without pay for eight months at that time. While the crew remained on board to comply with a court-ordered seizure of the vessel, they were forced to rely on local support for basic necessities like food.
The primary hardship for the sailors was the financial strain placed on their families back home. “They were far away and unable to send money to their families, who were always waiting for something,” Tavares explained. “Now, they are finally taking home what they were owed.”
Calls for Greater Protection
The resolution comes after months of delay, during which the shipowner reportedly claimed that selling the vessel was the only way to generate the necessary funds. The case has sparked renewed calls from the ITF for European fishing industry employers to negotiate collective agreements. Such measures would provide legal protections for foreign crews on European-owned vessels, preventing similar cases of abandonment in the future.
As the Novo Ruivo remains in Mindelo under judicial arrest, its crew can finally put the six-month standoff behind them and reunite with their families.
Image: Pexels – Ana Marta Jorge
