Mala Kado
15 seafarers abandoned on the Mala Kado (IMO 9141912, flag Guinea-Bissau) in Suez South Anchorage, Egypt, 1 July 2024. ILO case 1020, status: Resolved.
- Status
- Resolved
- Abandonment ID
- 1020
- IMO Number
- 9141912
- Flag
- Guinea-Bissau
- Port of Abandonment
- Suez South Anchorage, Egypt
- Abandonment Date
- 1 July 2024
- Notification Date
- 8 July 2024
- Seafarers
- 15
- Reporting Org.
- International Transport Workers' Federation
Circumstances
Crewmembers are owed 2 months wages.
Some crew have expired contracts, one crewmember is 5 months over his contract expiry date
Updates
15 June 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
10 crewmembers were repatriated. Despite the situation, some of them decided to remain on board. The outstanding wages were paid and fuel and provisions were delivered. This case has been resolved.
26 May 2025: Guinea-Bissau
(From the Guinea-Bissau International Ship Registry)
We take this opportunity to kindly reiterate our official communication dated 21 January 2025 (Ref. GSR-OFC 08-2025), submitted via email by the G-B ISR (gbi@gbisr.com) to Mr.***** and other relevant recipients, regarding the resolution of the previous abandonment case under ID 01020 for the same vessel and characterized, as resolved.
As per paragraph 28 of the IMO/ILO “Guidelines on How to Deal with Seafarer Abandonment Cases”, a case may be considered resolved when:
o All seafarers have been successfully repatriated
o All outstanding remuneration and contractual entitlements have been paid and received
It is confirmed that to the best of our knowledge both conditions were fulfilled and documented in our communication of 21 January 2025, including:
o Verified payment of all crew wages
o Documented evidence of completed repatriation procedures
Therefore, we respectfully request that Abandonment Case ID 01020 be now formally marked as RESOLVED in the ILO/IMO Joint Database.
21 January 2025: Guinea-Bissau
(From the Guinea-Bissau International Ships Registry)
The Guinea-Bissau International Ships Registry (G-B ISR) hereby submits this formal update regarding the abandonment case of the M/V Mala Kado (IMO 9141912) at Suez South Anchorage, Egypt as recorded in the IMO/ILO database.
1. Summary of Actions Taken:
In accordance with the ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006) and the IMO/ILO Guidelines on Seafarer Abandonment, the G-B ISR has diligently addressed the reported concerns of seafarers. Our actions have included:
- Coordination with the shipowner and relevant stakeholders to ensure the payment of all outstanding wages.
- Oversight and facilitation of the safe and timely repatriation of affected seafarers.
- Engagement with the Port State to ensure the seafarers' access to essential support and their rights under international maritime conventions.
2. Case Resolution Status (As of January 2025):
We are pleased to confirm that following the most recent reports by the ship-owning company and documented evidence (wages payment and repatriation evidence) all outstanding issues related to the abandonment of the M/V Mala Kado have been fully resolved:
- Wages Payment: Salaries owed to the crew were paid before their repatriation. Proof of payment has been received and verified.
- Repatriation: All seafarers who requested repatriation have safely returned to their home countries, and their rights have been respected throughout the process.
3. Request for Case Closure (resolved):
In light of the resolution of all related matters, we respectfully request that the case of M/V Mala Kado be marked as "Resolved" within the ILO/IMO Joint Database on Abandonment of Seafarers.
Upon request the GB ISR Operations Department ('Ops' ops@gbi-lb.org) may provide the most recent correspondence and documented evidence from the shipowner confirming these resolutions, along with relevant supporting documentation for your records.
Should additional information or clarification be required, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
Thank you for your continued collaboration and for maintaining this vital database to ensure the protection of seafarers worldwide.
13 October 2024: Egypt
by the Maritime Transport Sector Egypt:
Kindly note that we have contacted the headquarter of the Eqyptian Navy in order to clarify the situation completely to them, accordingly the Geogian's passport had been returned at once.
On the other hand, we had followed the port agent to finalize the disembarking port formalities till he issues the E-tickets.
Finally, the (2) Georgian seafarers had been disembarked on Oct 11th, 2024 evening in order to catch their flights.
7 October 2024: Georgia
By Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia:
I am writing behalf of Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia, regarding Georgian seafarers serving on board on vessel flying the flag of GUINEA-BISSAU.
I would like to bring to your attention that on the evening of October 2, both Georgian seafarers underwent a medical examination. As a result, the doctor recommended that both seafarers should be repatriated. The seafarers were also informed by the ship agent that they would leave the country on October 4, but the next day, on October 3, the Egyptian Navy boarded the ship and confiscated the seafarers' passports.
7 October 2024: Georgia
By Georgian Consulate in Cairo:
We would like to inform you regarding the Georgian citizens - seafarers’ problems once again (The ship sails with the flag of Bissau - Guinea-Bissau IMO 9141912) we have still two sailors on the ship. Their health condition is significantly worsened.
At the same time they have been investigated by doctor and the disembarkment permission was granted (permit for landing a sick person). However they still are not allowed to sign off the ship. Could you please explain to us the reason and regulation, based on which our Georgian seafarers are still on the board against their will.
In regard of the above-mentioned situation please take into consideration the possibility of arranging repatriation and providing your urgent assistance.
2 October 2024: Other
By Pusula Shipping
Although we have been trying to sign off crew from the vessel for more than one week, the authorities in Egypt refused to do it. They said there is detention on the vssel (commercial issue) and sign off is prohibited. We pointed out that this was a humanity issue not related with vessel commercial detention but they insisted on their decisions. We decided to have legal support via one Egyptian lawyer. He said the authorities in his country are strict for such operations. However, he suggested us to request some other type of involvement like crew's consulates (we called them and asked the same) and like your institutions, etc.
Can you please get in contact with Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and send a strong message for those crew? (The Lawyer said this)
Pleased to have your assistance on this issue.
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I must send below correction:
8 seafarers from Azerbaijan (4), Georgia (2), and Türkiye (2). Vessel is not abondoned.
Azerbaijan (4), Georgia (2) want to sign off but the authorities not allowed due to vessel detention only. There is no any other reason They are not slaves/prisoners.
Please assist them.
1 October 2024: Other
By PUSULA SHIPPING
We have NOT abandoned our vessel. We are trying to appoint protective agent as the formal agent is ignoring our instruction for sign off the crew.
1 October 2024: Georgia
Embassy of Georgia to the Arab Republic of Egypt
As informed regarding the Georgian citizens - seafarers problems (The ship sails with the flag of Bissau - Guinea-Bissau IMO 9141912) we have still two sailors on the ship. They have very bad health condition they are not able to eat and drink (loss weight 20 KG) and they have mental problems as well, at the same time Georgian citizens request to sign off from the ship and travel to home urgently. Our seafarers needs emergency medical assistance on board as well.
Could you please take into consideration the above-mentioned situation regarding the possibility of arranging repatriation and give your assistance to him urgently.
27 September 2024: Guinea-Bissau
The Guinea-Bissau International Ships Registry (G-B I.S.R.) following up on the concrete case, as per the subject line, provides the below information on the M/V MALA KADO (IMO 9141812) as the competent Flag State Administration in reply to your e-msg in reference and as a follow up to our e-message in reference dated 24/7/24:
1. Further to your e-message concerning the indicated health situation of one crew member remaining on board, an immediate approach towards the owning company was undertaken for appropriate action towards providing of medical assistance and transfer to the hospital, as deemed necessary and appropriate, by means of facilitating the prompt disembarkation of seafarers in need of immediate medical care, and access to medical facilities ashore.
2. In addition to the final settlement of wages due and the repatriation of further requesting seafarers still on board the vessel an immediate action plan was requested along with a definite timeline for the replenishment of fuel on board the vessel.
Following the above, the International Ships Registry of Guinea-Bissau reassures its commitment to taking all the necessary initiatives as competent Flag State Administration under MLC 2006, as amended, requirements and for the prompt resolution of the situation in regards to the proper and viable conditions for the seafarers on board the vessel, the payment of their outstanding wages in full and their repatriation.
8 July 2024: International Transport Workers' Federation
Crew do not wish to remain on the vessel once they receive their wages because of the company refusal to pay on time.