CHARLESTON, South Carolina: An Egyptian freighter and its 29-man crew stranded here for more than three months because of legal and safety problems must remain a while longer because of a new legal dispute. A new lawsuit was filed by a maritime insurance company seeking back premiums from Edco s owner. Until there is an agreement in federal court, the ship will not be able to leave. The ship had been awaiting approval to leave U.S. waters after making repairs to make it seaworthy. The crew had hoped to return to Egypt several weeks ago. There are a couple guys struggling with some serious depression, Mark Cooke, a chaplain with the Charleston Port & Seafarers Society, told The Post and Courier for a Tuesday story. For some guys, the tension has really begun to wear on them, and there s been some medical attention for that. None of the crewmen have visas so they have been confined aboard the ship moored at a State Ports Authority pier in North Charleston. The latest lawsuit was filed by the American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association Inc. against the ship s owner, Misr Edco Shipping Co SAE. It seeks more than $238,000. The ship had originally been detained as part of a lawsuit surrounding cargo in its sister ship. A letter of credit obtained last month by the ship s owner was thought to be enough to let the Edco sail.
