Fifteen Ukrainians, crewmembers of the Free Neptune, have returned to Ukraine after more than one-and-a-half years of staying on board this ship in the Sultanate of Oman due to the non-payment of wages by the shipowner, the Consular Service Department of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has reported.

"Fifteen sailors from the Free Neptune ship have returned to Ukraine. The journey home lasting for more than a year and a half was accompanied by active negotiations with the shipowner, port authorities and law enforcement agencies of Oman. What was expected became possible only with clear and comprehensive actions of diplomats, lawyers and an understanding of responsibility by the shipowner," the department reported on its Facebook page on Tuesday.

At the same time, Ukrainian diplomats noted that one of the reasons for this situation is insufficient awareness of the history about the shipowner, as well as about the rights and obligations of the parties in accordance with the contract signed.

"A maritime information center, which was opened in Odesa by the Foreign Ministry jointly with the Ukrainian Maritime Transport Workers' Trade Union, will serve as an assistant for the sailors. We are also planning to open such a center in Kherson," the department said.