Eco III
9 seafarers abandoned on the Eco III (IMO 9327499, flag Mexico) in Tampa, United States of America, 1 December 2024. ILO case 1153, status: Disputed.
- Status
- Disputed
- Abandonment ID
- 1153
- IMO Number
- 9327499
- Flag
- Mexico
- Port of Abandonment
- Tampa, United States of America
- Abandonment Date
- 1 December 2024
- Notification Date
- 2 December 2024
- Seafarers
- 9
- Reporting Org.
- International Transport Workers' Federation
Circumstances
Crew has experienced delayed payments in previous months and are now being told by the company that the company does not have sufficient funds to pay any currently dues or upcoming payments to the crew. Currently due October and November 2024 wages. Additional crew members were previously repatriated without full payment and required to sign liability release forms in order to obtain partial payment.
Seafarers applied to insurer: Non-MLC flag, working to determine applicability of insurance cover for this circumstance
Insurance certificate dates: N/A
Updates
3 February 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
All crew members were repatriated from Tampa, Florida on 23rd January 2025 in order for the vessel to be moved to a lay berth without provision for crew sanitary services. No wages due were paid to the crew at the time of their repatriation.
This case has been remarked as "disputed".
* (ILO) Despite the discrepancy with the ITF's previous update on January 19, this case was confirmed as disputed by the ITF on March 27.
19 January 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
The crew received their outstanding wages and were repatriated. This case has been "resolved."
9 January 2025: Mexico
(From the Mexico's Permanant Mission to IMO)
I wish to inform you that Mexico's Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) has notified this Representation of the registration in the “IMO/ILO Joint Database on the Abandonment of Seafarers” concerning the abandonment of 9 Mexican Merchant Seafarers in Tampa, United States, on December 1 of 2025. These individuals were part of the crew of the offshore vessel "ECO III," flying the Mexican flag, with IMO number 9327499.
In this regard, I kindly share the following information:
1. The Port Captaincies and Maritime Affairs Unit (UNICAPAM), as the representative of the National Maritime Authority, was not informed in advance of the abandonment of the 9 Mexican Merchant Seafarers.
2. Upon reviewing the information recorded in the Institutional System of Port Captaincies and Maritime Affairs, it was found that the shipping agency requested multiple port arrivals and clearances in 2023 for the vessel ECO III.
3. The Crew List indicating 41 Mexican crew members aboard and the clearance document issued for the vessel ECO III on May 19, 2023, bound for the Port of Tampa, Florida, are attached to this message.
Additionally, I kindly request that you take note documentation provided by SEMAR forwarded in this email. This will ensure that the necessary elements are available to address the information recorded in the “IMO/ILO Joint Database on the Abandonment of Seafarers” concerning the offshore vessel ECO III.
I would appreciate being informed of the results of this request at your earliest convenience.
13 December 2024: International Maritime Organisation
The new vessel, ‘ECO III’ with IMO Number 9327499, is an Offshore Processing Ship.
The insurer is Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association (Bermuda) and GMX Seguros.