Scottish cadets stranded at sea off Singapore amid firm's financial woes
A group of Scottish sea cadets have been stranded at sea off Singapore for weeks after the company they were training with went bankrupt.
Four cadets from Clyde Marine Training had been on a placement with South Korean company Hanjin Shipping as part of their City of Glasgow College course when the company went into financial trouble.
It has been reported Hanjin has been granted orders to protect its ships from seizure but dozens are said to be anchored off ports while the company tries to secure the funds to unload cargo.
Among the crews stranded is Ruairidh Hanna, from Dingwall, and three other cadets on board the Hanjin Louisiana ship, anchored east of Singapore.
They were taking part in a placement as part of their nautical science course.
Clyde Marine Training said it is contact with the cadets and their families.
A spokesman said: ''We currently have four cadets on board Hanjin Louisiana, which is at anchor off Singapore. We are in regular contact with both them and their families, and understand just how frustrating this situation is for them. Their wellbeing is of paramount importance and we remain in close communication with all parties concerned in order to offer any practical assistance we can and to ensure that they are able to return home as soon as is possible.''
A City of Glasgow College spokeswoman said it was monitoring the situation.
''Our world-class maritime campus at riverside delivers cadet training for a number of companies internationally including Clyde Marine,'' the spokeswoman said.
''We are aware of the situation in Hanjin and are monitoring it closely.''
Mr Hanna's MP, Drew Henry, wants the UK Government to take action.
He said: ''This is a completely frustrating and potentially dangerous situation for the crew and a huge worry for their families - and I really want Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to get on and take action to get them to a place of safety. After Ruairidh got in touch, my immediate concern was to get him and his colleagues home to their families. Over the past couple of weeks my office and I have been working with the trade union Nautilus and other agencies to find ways to make this happen.''