OCTOBER 23, 2012: Crew from an Italian cargo ship were stranded in Greenock after their vessel was impounded by authorities.

Around 20 Filipino and Italian sailors from bulk carrier Mariolina de Carlini had been stranded at Inchgreen Dry Dock since 2 August.

Port officials said that upon arrival at Clydeport-owned Inchgreen, the vessel — owned by Italian company Rizzo Bottiglieri-De Carlini Armatori S.p.A — had been served with a civil arrest warrant.

(Image: Newsquest)

Clydeport harbour master, Captain Ron Bailey, said: “When the ship arrived at Inchgreen it was Clydeport’s responsibility to ensure it remained safe and with that we also have the welfare of the crew in mind.

“Our involvement has been to keep in close touch with the crew and officers to ascertain what the overall situation is.

"There was a period when they were not paid which obviously caused them concern and this was when I was asked on their behalf to contact the relevant consuls.

“However, in a situation such as this, their greatest problem becomes boredom.”

In a bid to alleviate their boredom, the Mariolina crew had been regular visitors to Cappielow to cheer on Morton.

And the sailors had proved to be lucky mascots for Allan Moore’s men, who have hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks.

Susan Gregory, Morton commercial manager, said: “It’s always lovely to welcome new supporters and hopefully our recent run of form has made their stay in Greenock a bit more enjoyable.”

The local Italian community had also showed their caring side by helping to feed and cloth the stranded crew during their near three-month stay in Inverclyde.

Captain Bailey said: “Charity organisation ‘The Apostleship of the Seas’ have attended to try and keep crew morale up and to help their spiritual welfare, and I am told that the master and chief engineer have become regulars at the Café Continental in Gourock and the Greenock Italian Club.

“Both Clydeport and the local community have rallied round to help the crew and we now hope the overall situation will be resolved by the end of the month allowing them to sail south again.”

Meanwhile, Clydeport had confirmed another ship currently docked at Inchgreen, Louds Island, was laid up there due to lack of work.