Tag: abandonment of seafarers

​The increased number of reported cases of abandonment of seafarers is being highlighted at the 105th session of IMO's Legal Committee, currently underway, from 23 to 25 April. A joint ILO/IMO database recorded 55 such cases during 2017, against an average 19 annually during the preceding three years.

16 crew members of the container ship 'Avonmoor', who had been abandoned in the Port of Casablanca, Morocco, since January 2018, have been now repatriated home to the Ukraine, after efforts of International Transport Workers’ Federation Inspectors, and ITF affiliate, Moroccan Workers' Union.

The UAE Federal Transport Authority for Land and Maritime has banned all ships belonging to Venous Ship Management and Operation LLC, based in Fujairah, for not protecting seafarers’ rights, operating in the UAE waters. The Indian Consulate in Dubai had blacklisted the same company in an advisory back in July 2017.

The Indian Directorate General of Shipping reported that Indian seafarers are stranded at Dubai for last 22 months, because their companies have abandoned them. India proceeded and blacklisted these companies. India instructed the recruitment agencies that placed Indian seafarers on these vessels to withdraw Indian seafarers and repatriate them.

The eleven crew of the Panamanian flagged 'Agean Princess' returned home to India and Myanmar, after being held in Ajman, UAE, for 17 months, due to a dispute between their ships operator and owner. However, ITF stressed that the crew are still owed unpaid wages going back to 2015, totaling over USD 916,000.

All ships flying the UAE flag trading internationally, as well as all ships operating in UAE waters above 200 gross tons, must have a financial security system to protect seafarers against abandonment, death or injury, according to a circular published by the Federal Transport Authority.

The new rules oblige shipowners to provide financial security to protect seafarers from abandonment in an overseas port. Additionally, the new agreement ensures the payment of contractual compensation in the event of the death or long-term disability of a seafarer resulting from an occupational injury, illness or hazard.

Nirmal Singh Rawat, 27, lived a very challenging experience after he was stranded by the owner of the 'MT Hamed 2' oil tanker, which was anchored five nautical miles off the shore, in the borders of Sharjah and Ajman.

The United Arab Emirates Federal Transport Authority and the International Transport Workers' Federation agreed to develop a protocol to govern a closer working relationship, including increased cooperation and information exchange, in a bid to tackle abandonment cases in UAE waters.

The United Arab Emirates Transport Authority has banned all ships of the Indian Varun Resources Limited from calling the country's ports, due to repeated crew abandonment offences.