Last year the MV Linda sailed into Dundalk port. Her crew of Russian and Ukrainian sailors
had very little food and hadn't been paid for months. When the ship failed a sea-worthiness
inspection, they were stranded far from home.
Eventually the ship was sold at auction last month and the crew finally received their
wages enabling them to return home.
The ship was bought by the Irish Free Gaza movement and re-named the Rachel
Corrie after the young American human rights activist who was killed by Israeli
forces while trying to stop the demolition of houses in Gaza.
After being loaded with 1,200 tonnes humanitarian aid, mainly construction materials,
medical and educational supplies, the Rachel Corrie will set sail to The
Mediterranean to join an international flotilla of ships aiming to break the
Israeli blockade on Gaza. Politicians and journalists from a number of European
countries, including Ireland, will be among the passengers on board.