The International Transport Federation has described as 'appalling' conditions aboard a ship which arrived at the Ringaskiddy ferryport at Cork harbour this morning.

The ITF inspector in Ireland, Ken Fleming, went aboard with SIPTU officials from Cork and said that there was such insufficient food that the union had to take members of the crew off to feed them in a local restaurant.

Port workers have agreed to discharge the cargo of molasses aboard provided that the ship is properly provisioned for the crew and that wage and payment problems aboard are resolved.

The ITF inspector has called on the Department of the Marine port control authorities to inspect the ship.

Ken Fleming said the Filipino seafarers had not been provided with adequate food for a fortnight but the officers seemed to be looking after themselves.

The ship is registered in Liberia. The owners have so far not been identified.