Stranded Bulgarians lobby ambassador

Striking Bulgarian seamen stranded penniless on their fish factory ship, which has been detained in Shetland by marine safety authorities, met their ambassador in London yesterday.

The delegation from the Klondiker, Rotalia, was representing 26 other crew members who have taken industrial action claiming they have not been paid for nearly three years by their Bulgarian state company.

Two officers from the ship owned by Okeanski Ribolvova - which also has two other ships in detention in British waters - went to the embassy with Joan Walley, Labour's shipping spokeswoman, and Jimmy Knapp, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.

After a two-and-a-half hour meeting, the ambassador, Stefan Tafrov, and company representatives agreed to further meetings in an attempt to reach a settlement.