Marin
11 seafarers abandoned on the Marin (IMO 8917895, flag Palau) in Malta Anchorages, Malta, 29 June 2024. ILO case 1018, status: Resolved.
- Status
- Resolved
- Abandonment ID
- 1018
- IMO Number
- 8917895
- Flag
- Palau
- Port of Abandonment
- Malta Anchorages, Malta
- Abandonment Date
- 29 June 2024
- Notification Date
- 3 July 2024
- Seafarers
- 11
- Reporting Org.
- International Transport Workers' Federation
Circumstances
Only 2 crew are requesting assistance
Two crew have declared that they are owed more than 2 months wages. It is highly probable that the other crew are also owed as much wages but are afraid to report.
Updates
30 July 2024: International Transport Workers' Federation
The first time the vessel was reported as a case of abandonment was on the 30th June 2024 with an abandonment date of the 29th June.
The Egyptian Chief Officer and the Syrian Bosun had reported that all crew had not been paid for 4 months. Nevertheless, it was only them who sought assistance. The vessel had stopped at Malta OTW, entered TW for bunker and sailed back to OTW.
I negotiated with the ship managers and informed the Flag State. I officially submitted a claim to the P&I, to set in motion the Financial security process. Negotiations were started with the P&I.
After the P&I’s acceptance and commitment, we started the process for the disembarkation and subsequent repatriation and upon the P&I’s request, we coordinated the whole logistics process. At the 11th hour, the Bosun was persuaded by the company to decline further assistance from the ITF and opted to remain on board.
The Chief officer was eventually disembarked from OTW Malta, repatriated and paid his outstanding salaries of almost $11,000 by the P&I’s
Following this incident, the vessel sailed to Koper and was visited by my colleague, whom I have added in the loop. Evidently, upon inspection, Luka discovered the fact that the wages had not been paid for months qualifying the crew as having been abandoned. He again reported the vessel as an abandonment case while my report had not been closed. I did not see a reason for closing my report when I knew that technically and realistically the crew remained abandoned – even if they declined to report or seek assistance in Malta. The Palau administration had been kept in the loop all the time.
Therefore, this explains the overlap. When the vessel arrived in Koper after Malta OTW, it still had a situation of abandonment. In Malta, I had only solved the issue of the Chief Officer. My colleague solved the issue of all the remaining crew.
I trust that this clarifies the picture however, do not hesitate to ask if you have further queries.
23 July 2024: International Transport Workers' Federation
One crewmember received his outstanding wages and was repatriated. The second seafarer decided to accept the letter that the company would pay his outstanding wages and declined further help from us.