A pair of veteran sailors have been stranded on an anchored ship that was meant to set sail two and a half years ago.
For the past 30 months Vyacheslav Borshchevskij and Richard Thompson have lived together on the MV Ethan in the Port of Quebec, Canada.
They joined a crew ready to sail the boat after Bahamian company D&D Maritime bought it from the Quebec-based Groupe Desgagnés in the summer of 2016 for more than $750,000 (£592,000) in cash.
A year later the new owners ran into financial trouble leading most of the crew to leave, CBC reported.
But not 59-year-olds Mr Thompson and Mr Borshchevskij, who decided they would wait on board until they're paid what they say they're owed - a combined $264,000 (£208,000)
Mr Borshchevskij has not seen his wife and family since he left the Ukraine to fly to Quebec City in Canada a few days before Christmas 2016.
Mr Thompson has not seen his son since he left the Bahamas when the boy was five.
He's soon to celebrate his ninth birthday.
Due to legislation recently passed in Canada, ownership of abandoned vessels goes directly to the government, which would leave the men unable to get their wages back.
Mr Thompson told CBC: "How can we go home to our families with zero dollars? It's an embarrassing situation.
"We basically kept the ship alive, because we know the ship is worthless if we let it go, if you don't keep the electricity going, the radios warm, the water running through the pipes so they don't freeze,"
The unlikely couple have learned to live together, taking turns to cook and occasionally leave the ship to get groceries.
Earlier this year a judge ordered the 44-year-old boat be sold.
On May 17 it was handed to a new owner in return for $150,000 (£118,000), significantly less than the men say they are owed.
According to Mr Thompson there is no mention of either of them in the court ruling.
"We've been forgotten," he said.
The pair have filed a "note of protest" to the federal court in a bid to be the first creditors paid.
Mr Borshchevskij said he is dreaming of hugging his grandchildren, going on vacation and renewing his professional certification once he is off the ship.
Mr Thompson expressed doubts whether he could face his family after paying to keep the MV Ethan working.
One of the owners of D&D Maritime, Chuck Deal, told CBC News: "We are going to pay whatever bills and the crew. We are waiting for extra funding. It might take us a few months."
Mirror Online has approached D&D Maritime for comment.
