After more than five months at sea on an abandoned ship, the remaining crew of the Yangtze Fortune is finally going home.
The Liberian-flagged ship has been anchored off the coast of Portland in south-west Victoria since September last year.
A planned mission to deliver cattle to China was scuttled after a crack was discovered in the ship's hull.
The vessel became the subject of an Australian Federal Court order in December, with a court judgement ruling the boat's Chinese owners had abandoned the ship and crew amid mounting debt.
About 20 crew members were allowed to leave the boat in January, however 16 crew were required by Australian law to remain on board to respond to any emergencies.
That core group of men — the last ones standing — were given the good news that they could finally return home this week.
Their bags are packed, flights are booked, loved ones informed.
In short, they're "elated", according to Portland Mission to Seafarers manager Neville Manson.
"They're absolutely relieved just to be going home, " he said.
Owed wages to be paid, seafarers say
The crew will return to shore in Portland for the final time on Wednesday before travelling to Melbourne and boarding a flight to Manila.
They're being replaced by a Chinese crew, supplied by the ship's new owner.
It's not yet known what the future holds for the infamous vessel, but Mr Manson said the ship's crew will be paid their dues by the new vessel's owner.
"They're second-in-line as creditors for the money owned," he said.
"There's a process that will have to take place … but the vessel has definitely been sold."
The Mission to Seafarers has been one of a number of groups to reach out to the stranded crew since they landed in the south-west last September.
Mr Manson said the remaining crew's spirits have been relatively high, but that the news of a return home was a welcome boon.
"We heard whispers that this was possibly going to happen," he said.
"They're extremely happy, extremely happy to see it over."
