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Power outages and a lack of AC and food made life unbearable at times, they said. Andy Scott / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BUTBRHAIOOLQPX6YIEQIU2G52I.jpg?smart=true&auth=87899054b2960db8c2ce7ee7274da9f508e6954b4b7b432d6c83fd4bff1d8534&width=400&height=225)
The National's Nick Webster and Andy Scott met the crew on board Mt Iba in May as they prepare to fly home from Dubai. The five sailors spent four years on a vessel that was abandoned in the Gulf by its owners. Andy Scott / The National
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The vessel was anchored in the Gulf until strong seas caused it to run aground in Umm Al Quwain, 100km north of Dubai. Successful negotiations meant the ship could be towed down the coast to Dubai. Andy Scott / The National
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The Mt Iba docked in Dubai Maritime City port on May 6, 2021. Andy Scott / The National
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After successful negotiations, the crew will collect 80 per cent of the $170,000 wages they were owed after four years at sea. Andy Scott / The National
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The crew said they could not wait to leave their run-down quarters. Andy Scott / The National
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Power outages and a lack of AC and food made life unbearable at times, they said. Andy Scott / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BUTBRHAIOOLQPX6YIEQIU2G52I.jpg?smart=true&auth=87899054b2960db8c2ce7ee7274da9f508e6954b4b7b432d6c83fd4bff1d8534&width=400&height=225)
The National's Nick Webster and Andy Scott met the crew on board Mt Iba in May as they prepare to fly home from Dubai. The five sailors spent four years on a vessel that was abandoned in the Gulf by its owners. Andy Scott / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O3BQBULADT7TLGGZGDVFZ5DGVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a61fe063bc36446af6d648f208a68a16a2822ffc66e4977f41496af5ec0f9f5c&width=400&height=225)
The vessel was anchored in the Gulf until strong seas caused it to run aground in Umm Al Quwain, 100km north of Dubai. Successful negotiations meant the ship could be towed down the coast to Dubai. Andy Scott / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QNUDK6FDLS6C67QWUEMFJLLACE.jpg?smart=true&auth=909a96ce7136d6a76960a3a3f6e1a2cbe477ea1585486dba9494dcfffb456936&width=400&height=225)
The Mt Iba docked in Dubai Maritime City port on May 6, 2021. Andy Scott / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TV23VMXMQVBZCVUAWPWKOSUQWQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=adbafed6f512ffc6d459fe290c60b4ec2dcbd120cba214b27e39e637d5003f3b&width=400&height=225)
After successful negotiations, the crew will collect 80 per cent of the $170,000 wages they were owed after four years at sea. Andy Scott / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2IDAJANFRKOMWQQ6I3YHXXVSLE.jpg?smart=true&auth=4e1e8a4f7e49727b52001ac5796fe89d76f0578bcd0bf9d847feb74f843ee17a&width=400&height=225)
The crew said they could not wait to leave their run-down quarters. Andy Scott / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X2UBM44WRQZHSPS45QPW2RCUJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc84d329eaf7ddfe680bbd808cefd0bc2635b710c9ca3e140c8d5e997a6a1c0a&width=400&height=225)
Power outages and a lack of AC and food made life unbearable at times, they said. Andy Scott / The National
Abandoned seafarers tell of life since running aground in Umm Al Quwain
Now back home, crew of Mt Iba reflect on a bittersweet year
![Nick Webster](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F9cfba7f3-8cc8-4789-bcec-97bd0007d9ef.png?smart=true&auth=96a9a5766af20e4704e52306e74ecd02669a7e0ffd084d4151d31e0039a945d3&width=70&height=70)
Nick Webster
28 December, 2021
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