A Belize registered container vessel has been detained in New Ross, Co Wexford, after it was found to have major structural defects.
The 2,500-tonne Lillian has been detained by State port control inspectors after an Irish engineering firm took legal proceedings when it found that seawater had badly corroded a steel cargo on board which it had ordered.
The Russian crew of nine, who are employed by the Inter Balt Crewing Agency through its St Petersburg office, have remained on board, according to the International Transport Federation.
Since joining the ship in April they have been receiving about half of the ITF rates, according to the federation's Irish inspector Ken Fleming of Siptu.
He said the captain was earning $1,500 a month instead of $5,000, the chief engineer was on $2,000 a month instead of $4,000, and able seamen were on $1,000 a month instead of $1,750.
The crew were "absolutely terrified and afraid to speak out", Mr Fleming said.
"The main reason why this state of affairs came to light was that an Irish customer had the vessel arrested after finding its consignment of steel was badly corroded.
"I am now appealing to the firm's legal representatives not to agree to the ship's release until the men have proper contracts in place."
According to Mr Fleming, State port control inspectors found at least 15 defects on board the Lillian, nine of which are serious and need to be addressed before she can sail again.
"This is another example of Ireland's economy being subsidised by Third World work practices. It is only a matter of time before they spread ashore if we do not live up to our obligations in a sector that is vital to an island economy," he said.
The incident is the latest in a series of disputes involving foreign-registered vessels in Irish waters.
Last Saturday, the 11 Latvian crew members of the Fortuna One finally sailed from Carlingford after a 12-week wait, after they received arrears of pay and work was completed to make the ship safe to travel.
"It is only a matter of time before we have a major tragedy on these floating sweatshops. When the crews are non-EU nationals the task of protecting them becomes all the harder," Mr Fleming said.
The ITF claims wage irregularities have been discovered on more than a quarter of all ships inspected by Mr Fleming in the past year.
About €540,000 had been recovered for seafarers.
