Wycliffe
4 seafarers abandoned on the Wycliffe (IMO 6605254, flag Vanuatu) in Seattle, United States of America, 2 August 2024. ILO case 1058, status: Resolved.
- Status
- Resolved
- Abandonment ID
- 1058
- IMO Number
- 6605254
- Flag
- Vanuatu
- Port of Abandonment
- Seattle, United States of America
- Abandonment Date
- 2 August 2024
- Notification Date
- 10 August 2024
- Seafarers
- 4
- Reporting Org.
- International Transport Workers' Federation
Circumstances
Owner purchased laid up tug to tow 2 ferries to Ecuador to sell for scrap. Tug was reflagged from USA to Vanuatu to avoid US regulations.
Some concerns over potential Jones Act Violations during the reflagging process. 3 of the 4 crew members have expired shore passes (seafarers and transit visa), creating a difficult situation to raise concerns as the they are restricted to the vessel.
At least 2 other iterations of crew left with safety/ operational concerns in October & May. 1 crewmember owed more than 2 months of wages
Updates
12 September 2024: International Transport Workers' Federation
Crew have been repatriated without the owed wages
13 August 2024: Peru
In order to inform my authorities in Peru, I would appreciate if it is possible to have more information regarding the two Peruvian citizens who were abandoned in Seattle.
13 August 2024: Vanuatu
The claims were bogus, as the USCG confirmed.
We already reported to ITF that the claims were false
The vessel is fully manned, provisioned and cleared by the USCG to sail on its intended route.
The USCG received the same message and the owners had a visit from their Commander itself and at the end of the visit they verified that these were not true and discarded all the ITF concerns. They wished me a good trip to Ecuador.
The ITF has overstepped its bounds with false accusations regarding this vessel and should not post incorrect information. The ITF needs to be better informed on situations before they make a broad declarations.
Flag is sure that if the ITF continues with these false statements, the owner will have a great legal cause of action.
10 August 2024: International Transport Workers' Federation
Other concerns include active berthing in a machinery space, failure of management to provide response support, this triggered the purchase of supplementary groceries & water by the Seattle Seafarer’s Center for delivery to crew
Other various maintenance concerns, concerns from the crew regarding the towing arrangement
Note: USCG approved the vessel to sail.
(1 US master has not reported aboard.)