Mala Kado
3 seafarers abandoned on the Mala Kado (IMO 9141912, flag Guinea-Bissau) in Suez anchorage, Egypt, 21 January 2025. ILO case 1324, status: Unresolved.
- Status
- Unresolved
- Abandonment ID
- 1324
- IMO Number
- 9141912
- Flag
- Guinea-Bissau
- Port of Abandonment
- Suez anchorage, Egypt
- Abandonment Date
- 21 January 2025
- Notification Date
- 9 May 2025
- Seafarers
- 3
- Reporting Org.
- International Transport Workers' Federation
Circumstances
Outstanding wages of 4 months and requesting repatriation
Seafarers applied to insurer?: No
Insurance certificate dates: N/A
Updates
26 May 2025: Guinea-Bissau
(From the Guinea-Bissau International Ships Registry)
The Guinea-Bissau International Ships Registry (G-B I.S.R.), in its capacity as the competent Flag State Administration, hereby submits the following official response concerning the above-referenced abandonment case reported in the ILO/IMO Joint Database on Abandonment of Seafarers:
1. Vessel Registration Status: The general cargo vessel M/V MALA KADO (IMO No. 9141912) has been under the flag of Guinea-Bissau since 1 March 2023. However, as of 19 July 2024, its registration with the G-B I.S.R. was suspended, and it remains suspended to date.
2. Vessel Background and Registry Status
• Vessel Name: M/V MALA KADO
• IMO Number: 9141912
• Vessel Type: General Cargo
• Flag: Guinea-Bissau
• Date of Registration under G-B I.S.R.: 1 March 2023
• Registration Status: Suspended since 19 July 2024 and remains suspended.
3. New Abandonment Case (ID 01324) – Summary
• Port of Alleged Abandonment: Suez Anchorage, Egypt
• Date of Alleged Abandonment: 21 January 2025
• Crew Involved: 3 Azerbaijani nationals
• Claims: 4 months of unpaid wages and request for repatriation
• Flag State Notification Date: 29 April 2025
4. Initial Notification and Allegations: On 29 April 2025, the G-B I.S.R. received formal notification from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) concerning alleged abandonment of three Azerbaijani seafarers on board the vessel at Suez Anchorage, Egypt, with reported four months’ unpaid wages and requests for repatriation. This was followed by an official communication from the IMO on 13 May 2025, advising that the case has been preliminarily recorded in the ILO/IMO joint database under Abandonment ID 01324.
5. Flag State Actions Pursuant to MLC 2006 and IMO/ILO Guidelines:
a. 30 April 2025: Upon receipt of the ITF notification, the G-B I.S.R. immediately contacted the owning company requesting:
• A full and updated crew list
• Details on the payment plan for outstanding wages (since November 2024)
• Confirmation of repatriation arrangements, including submission of travel documents and evidence of payments.
b. 14 May 2025: Following the official IMO notification, a second formal communication was sent by G-B I.S.R., reiterating the above requests and additionally asking for the full names and ranks of the allegedly abandoned seafarers.
c. 22 May 2025: The owning company responded, by submitting the crew list (including the three crew members identified), and provided partial bank transfer documentation confirming payment of wages up to mid-February 2025. The company also confirmed its intention to pay remaining wages and arrange for repatriation.
d. Upon this reply, the G-B I.S.R. reiterated its demand for:
• A definitive schedule for wage clearance
• Immediate repatriation of seafarers
• Submission of related documentation, including signed wage receipts and confirmed travel arrangements.
e. Subsequent correspondence with the company confirmed its commitment to finalize the wage payments and arrange the repatriation of all remaining crew members, and we are currently monitoring these steps to ensure implementation.
6. Ongoing Oversight: The G-B I.S.R. continues to follow up with the vessel’s operator and relevant parties to ensure all obligations under Regulation 2.5 and Standard A2.5.2 of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, as amended, are fulfilled. We remain in close contact with the ITF and port authorities for any additional verification or support required.
7. Closing Remarks: The G-B I.S.R. underscores its full commitment to the resolution of this case in accordance with the IMO/ILO Guidelines on Seafarer Abandonment, and is exercising its responsibilities as Flag State Administration with diligence and transparency.
We will submit a supplementary report as soon as the final confirmation of wage payments and repatriation is verified and documented, with the intent to jointly mark the case as resolved in the database, in coordination with the IMO and ILO.
8. Reaffirmation and Closure Request for Abandonment Case ID 01020
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. Jan de Boer 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.
9. Attachments (Supporting Documentation)
o Crew List June 2024
o Crew List – Dated 13 January 2025
o Bank Payment Confirmations – Wages up to Mid-February 2025
o Email Record – GBI Letter dated 21 January 2025 re: Closure of Abandonment ID 01020
Should further clarifications, documentation, or follow-up reporting be required, our Office remains at your full disposal.