BADARO

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Latest news

Crew waiting for debts since several months

The 27 crew members of the 'Badara' were claiming wages and dismissal debts ranging from US $ 15,000 to US $ 40,000. A group of the 27 has camped in front of a sumptuous farm owned by the ship's owner in Punta Ballena, and another group remained aboard the ship in the port of Montevideo. The “Badaro” was bought by the current owner, Ignacio Arocena, in 2019. Before, the same crew worked with him on another ship. The 2019 harvest began with a 100-day tour in the first days of March, from which they returned with 33 tons of toothfish; After 10 days of rest they left again and after 107 days they returned to the port of Montevideo with 43 tons. They returned earlier from the third trip, for the October elections. They went out again and returned with another 15 tons of toothfish which is traded on the international market at prices that can vary between US $ 20,000 and US $ 25,000 per ton. It was after this last trip of 2019 that the problems arose. As established in the employment contracts, upon arrival at port the crew must have deposited the agreed salary, which in this case had not been fulfilled. On Dec 23 Arocena admitted that he had no money, but that he would sell the “Badaro” to pay all the debts. However, months passed and the accounts were not settled since. The company closed its office in Uruguay and the businessman is in Chile. The fishermen ecided to take measures, first by mounting a guard on the ship itself to prevent it from leaving port and then camping in front of the estate of the businessman in the Punta Ballena area. The ship remained at the quay of the Montecon Container Terminal in Montevideo.

Medevac in South Atlantic

Three crew members of the "Badraro" were medevaced by the Uruguayan navy. The first was to be transferred to a care center, due to the seriousness of his injuries. He was hoisted aboard a helicopter of the the Air Force. While the "Audaz - ROU 34" disembarked two fishermen, one with minor injuries in his right hand, and one more who had a high blood pressure and tachycardia. Spanish report with photo: http://www.armada.mil.uy/Noticia/la-armada-culmino-con-exito-la-evacuacion-medica-de-los-pescadores.html