A Highland merchant navy cadet will finally be reunited with his family today after spending weeks stranded on the other side of the world.
Ruaridh Hanna, from Beauly, was one of four Scottish cadets who found themselves stuck aboard the Hanjin Lousiana container ship after its parent company went into receivership.
But the 22-year-old and his crewmates were finally allowed ashore yesterday after the ship was given permission to dock in Singapore.
The deck officer cadet boarded the first flight bound for London Heathrow – and was due to make the onward flight to Inverness Airport this morning.
He will welcomed by his family who have spent the last month anxiously waiting for news at home.
Mr Hanna said: “It’s certainly a good feeling to set foot on land after a while, and get into the airport and get the flight tickets in your hands.
“A few times before we left there was a possibility of us getting off but it didn’t really come to fruition, so now we’ve got the flight tickets we’re all pretty happy.”
Mr Hanna described the situation on board as a “bit of a shambles” as they struggled for information about what would happen to them and the ship.
The former Dingwall Academy pupil said: “There was a lack of communication between everyone involved, even internally between the various companies. No-one seemed to know what was going on.
“We were getting news from our families, from news websites.”
He said he is now planning a relaxing weekend at home before he returns to sea in October as part of his training.
His mother Rhona MacLennan, 53, said last night that it was “the best news” that her son was now on his way home.
She added: “It will definitely be a nice moment when he arrives back.
“It won’t seem real until I see him with my own eyes.”
It is understood Singapore’s High Court granted a temporary reprieve for the ships to dock without fear of being seized.
Mr Hanna was supposed to be home at the beginning of September, having boarded the Louisiana on May 5 in South Korea.
However, major shipping company Hanjin went into receivership on August 31 and several ships around the world were stuck at sea because of fears that they could be seized if they went into port.
It is understood that the Lousiana entered Singapore yesterday after a temporary reprieve was granted by the country’s courts.
The ship was initially put into a holding pattern in the Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka before being moved to an anchorage off Singapore, where there were concerns about possible pirate activity.
Highland MP Drew Hendry has led efforts to try and bring Mr Hanna and his friends home after the cadet’s family made contact about the situation last week.
He said: “We’re delighted that the cadets are finally coming home after much pressure.
“They have had to endure a month of being stuck on board with little communication and without knowing when they might be able to leave.
“Given the history of piracy in those waters it must have been a challenge to keep their spirits up.
“They and their families have shown much courage and determination, especially Ruaridh and his mum, Rhona.
“This must not be allowed to happen again and I will be working with the families, the Seafarers union Nautilus and others to ensure that trainee cadets are given far greater rights in future.”
The cadets are all undertaking training through Clyde Marine Training at the City of Glasgow College and were placed aboard the Lousiana by international maritime company Zodiac Shipping.
A spokesman for Clyde Marine Training said: “We are delighted that all four cadets are now ashore and will shortly be flying home to rejoin their families.
“They remain in good health and we are glad that this situation has been resolved by the parties concerned.”