There are more ways than one that South Korea’s cash-strapped Hanjin Shipping Co. is adrift at sea.

Law suit for bankruptcy protection was filed by Hanjin, one of the world’s biggest shipping lines, last week in Seoul. As ports in the U.S., Asia and Europe have turned the company’s ships away, a bizarre situation has been created on the high seas for 85 Hanjin ships that have been effectively marooned offshore. The Hanjin’s ships contents might be seized by creditors, which would disrupt port operations and the ships won’t be able to pay port fees are the worries.

Noting the giant workhorses of global trade that deliver everything from computers and clothing to televisions and toys, the South Korean shipping company operates 97 container ships. As companies are shipping merchandise to fill shelves and warehouses for the end-of-year holiday season, this incident has come as a jolt to the global shipping industry and global transportation of goods.

“Our ships can become ghost ships. Food and water are running down in those ships floating in international waters,” said Kim Ho Kyung, a manager at Hanjin Shipping’s labor union.

A capital injection for the company was hurriedly pieced together by South Korean authorities on Tuesday. The group said in an e-mailed statement that to help contain disruptions in the supply chain, Hanjin Group will provide 100 billion won ($90 million), including 40 billion won from Chairman Cho Yang Ho.

On the other hand, Saenuri lawmaker Kim Gwang Lim said in a statement that if Hanjin Group provides collateral, the government was asked to offer about 100 billion won in low-interest loans to the shipping line by South Korea’s ruling Saenuri Party.

Kim said in the statement that in order to to cover unpaid costs like fuel, including about 100 billion won immediately for payments such as to port operators to unload cargo from stranded ships, Hanjin Shipping needs more than 600 billion won, estimated South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

Compared with a 5.4 percent gain in the benchmark Kospi index, Hanjin Shipping shares have tumbled 63 percent this year.

On six Hanjin ships anchored at ports including Rotterdam and Singapore, food, water and daily necessities to crews are being now provided by the company. According to Hanjin¸ at 50 ports in 26 countries, there are about 70 container movers and 15 bulk ships that are stranded.

His vessel has been given permission to enter a Japanese port Wednesday to unload cargo, but will be required to head back out soon after, one Hanjin captain operating a ship in international waters near Japan reportedly said.

The captain who declined to use his name citing company policy told Bloomberg via a satellite phone that a request for food and water was rejected. He added that they don’t know how long they should wait at sea and hence there should be measures to secure the safety of sailors.

Some captains are heading for Singapore, Hamburg or Busan in South Korea, where the company hopes the ships won’t be impounded and will be able to unload so that clients can arrange alternative transport even as Hanjin’s lawyers try to arrange legal cover in 43 countries against ports taking over vessels.

According to Drewry Maritime Services Pvt., an independent ship consultancy, costing about $8,376 to operate per day, typically, a vessel that can carry 8,000, 20-foot containers. 80 to 85 tons of fuel oil a day is consumed by such a ship going at a speed of 17 knots.

(Adapted from Bloomberg)