Filipino ship crew refusing to leave Belfast in a row over pay and conditions are to receive over £48,000 compensation, trade unionists said today.
The South Korean company also reportedly agreed to pay the full cost of repatriation for 13 deck hands who want to fly home while safety tests are carried out on the freight vessel. One member has been on board for more than a year.
And Siptu representatives said port authorities in Belfast have detained the ship for another day while they carry out further inspections.
The union's international transport federation inspector, Ken Fleming, said: "If we are serious about our international obligations we cannot allow goods to be imported into and exported from our First World economy at Third World rates of pay and conditions."
The company is reportedly willing to pay £48,862.
Crew allege that the ship, the Naxos, leaks in heavy seas. It is owned by Jinyang Shipping in South Korea.
According to Mr Fleming, pay arrears could be as high as £257,360.
Some of the crew have been paid as little as £93 for more than 300 hours a month. Officers were paid just £412.
The ship's chef was not being allowed to cook any more food until dried fish prepared four days ago was eaten.
Fresh vegetables were now rotting, but the biggest concern was the ship's safety.
If the ship is deemed safe to sail it will go to Greenmore in Ireland to change crew and Mr Fleming said proper rates would be applied in the future.
He added: "The crew only undertook their first safety drill on their approach to Belfast. They should have had at least four drills since coming on board.
"The crew also swore to me, but I have no way of knowing this for sure until the vessel is inspected by the port authorities, that it is taking in salt water in heavy seas.
"The owner's efforts to deal with the problems would be comical if the situation was not so serious.