When the general cargo ship the MV Aman was detained at the Suez anchorage in Egypt in July 2017, chief officer Mohammad Aisha had only been on board for two months. However, he is still on board now, after four years.
According to ITF, since a court made him the ship’s legal guard’, they have been legally bound together. Therefore, he can’t leave the ship.
Mr. Aisha’s physical and mental health are deteriorating daily, as he is without power or light, while he swims to shore for basics like food and water.
In March of last year, the ship ran aground due to rough weather. Since then, no-one is providing me with fresh water, provisions or diesel oil. I have had to swim to shore every few days to get food and water and to charge my phone. These days, getting to shore is endangering my life because of the cold and my bad health
Aisha told ITF when he asked for our help in December 2020.
In order for Aisha to be free, only action by the Egyptian port authorities can do so. They have a range of practical options they can take to get Aisha home to Syria, but as yet none have been taken up.
What is more, a doctor who examined Aisha, found he was suffering all the symptoms typical of someone imprisoned in poor conditions. He is malnourished, anemic and suffers pain in his legs. He also shows signs of psychological damage relating to his treatment.
This has to be one of the worst cases we’ve come across. It’ is outrageous that after four years of serving as the legal fall guy for this ship, that the Egyptian port authorities still aren’t doing anything
Steve Trowsdale, the ITF Inspectorate Coordinator, sees all too much suffering as a result of abandonment.
However, he adds that according to latest information, the ship will be open to sale on the 24th of March.
He signed a guardianship form! He took the responsibility for the ship. Why isn’t he using the lifeboats to go to shore? If he’s buying food, he’s obviously being paid. So why doesn’t he buy a dingy to row to shore? So many questions and poorly written articles. Why doesn’t his country re issue a new passport and get it to him directly, then he can leave on his own.