Elektrans liquidates Singapore subsidiary

Elektrans liquidates Singapore subsidiary
Sam Chambers September 14th, 2018 https://splash247.com/elektrans-liquidates-singapore-subsidiary/

Elektrans is liquidating a subsidiary in Singapore. The Indian-owned tanker player has been in the headlines for the last couple of years with many reports of its seafarers not being paid for months. The company is owned by Gautam Daniel Chopra.

Chopra was at pains to highlight to Splash that the closure of Elektrans Global in Singapore was not the end of the group as a shipping and shipmanagement company. Elektrans Global, according to Chopra, was formed to employ senior management in Singapore. Michael Elwert, formally head of Elektrans Global, will continue to work with the company, Chopra said, via Elektrans Shipping.

Last year crew of the Distya Akula and Distya Ameya put up placards on social media for unpaid wages, a problem that has not entirely been resolved.

Elektrans had distanced themselves from the ships, saying they were the managers and the ships were owned by Arya Ship Charterers who were not paying the crew wages.

When quizzed by Splash today, Chopra insisted all his crew had been paid.

“All crew wages have been paid,” Chopra said, intimating that a smear campaign had been launched against him. “I have some ex-colleagues in India who want to mess with my reputation,” Chopra said, adding: “I am a sailor myself – I would never not pay my crew – otherwise I wouldn’t still have 1,500 crew, here in Mumbai.”

The problem with the seafarers still awaiting pay lies with Arya, Chopra insisted.