Five seafarers have been abandoned off the coast of Umm Al Quwain, in the United Arab Emirates, while also they haven’t received their wages for 32 months and are unable to go ashore for not having the right documents.
A total of four seafarers remain abandoned for one year without pay onboard the Togo-flagged MV Onda, in the port of Douala, Cameroon, according to information by ITF. Union representatives boarded the vessel and confirmed breaches of the MLC.
After 11 months without pay and more than a year abandoned onboard the MV Ula bulk carrier in the port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, its crewmembers have gone on a hunger strike.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation shed light on another case of seafarer abandonment, now concerning a crew of a bulk carrier which has been abandoned by its owner and flag state and is staging a hunger strike to call attention.
Following a concerning rise of shipowners abandoning their vessels and crew, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has helped recover more than $1.7 million in owned wages to seafarers.
IMO’s Legal Committee met virtually to conduct the 107th session addressing important matters in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fair treatment of seafarers and the abandonment of seafarers, issues that have been in the spotlight in the past months.
24 seafarers abandoned since July, after their ships were detained in Ravenna Port in Italy for alleged non-payment of bunker supplies, have been repatriated.
In light of the growing number of abandoned crew onboard ships in the Arab region,without pay, food or water, ITF Arab World and Iran Network join forces to help and get them home.
Shipowners can improve communication, to prevent misinformation and minimize the feeling of abandonment for seafarers, said Ms. Caitlin Vaughan, Project Manager at ISWAN during a webinar last week.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) reported that 15 seafarers remain stranded onboard the Spanish-flagged ship “MV Celanova” which does not have a rudder, and lacks electricity, lights, wi-fi, refrigeration, GPS, security or safety lights.
