Human Rights at Sea presented a case of 40 seafarers who are abandoned in difficult conditions in the UAE. The seafarers suffer from physical and mental health issues, while their salaries are outstanding for more than a year.
Human Rights at sea was contracted by the captain of one of the three vessels anchored in the UAE who reported that 40 crew members, of whom 30 Indian nationals were stranded in three vessels owned by the same shipping company which is based in Dubai.
The three vessels have been anchored at the port of Sharjah in UAE, with outstanding salaries, lack of provisions, and no medical assistance for more than a year.
The captain has been on board the vessel for 22 months, far greater than 8 months that was signed in his contract. For over a year now, he has been desperately trying to seek arrangements for his sign-off.
His salaries have now been pending for 15 months and the company has not provided at least the basics to the captain and the other seafarers who have completed their respective contracts on board.
Food and medical supplies are limited, dock supplies are insufficient, and the seafarers cook on top of a self-made burning fire pit.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
Additionally, the seafarers claim due to lack of fuel that there are daily power cuts and that during the hot months of summer they had been left without enough water to hydrate.
The crew has reported that their travel and identification documents have been confiscated by the UAE authorities.
Furthermore, the seafarers, who are on board in these conditions, have minimum to no communication, at all, with their families who are entirely dependent on them, financially.
