Sarah

1 seafarer abandoned on the Sarah (IMO 8120478, flag Comoros) in Gdynia, Poland, 1 February 2025. ILO case 1372, status: Unresolved.

Status
Unresolved
Abandonment ID
1372
IMO Number
8120478
Flag
Comoros
Port of Abandonment
Gdynia, Poland
Abandonment Date
1 February 2025
Notification Date
23 June 2025
Seafarers
1
Reporting Org.
International Transport Workers' Federation

Circumstances

Outstanding wages of 6 months. Vessel has been detained for multiple SOLAS and MLC breaches

Seafarers applied to insurer?: No
Insurance certificate dates: TBC

Updates

4 July 2025: Poland
(From the Ministry of Infrastructure)
With reference to correspondence concerning the vessel “SARAH” (IMO No. 8120478), which is moored at the English Quay in the Port of Gdynia, please note the following information.

The case of the mv SARAH dates back to August 2024 (look e-mail dated 19.08.2024 in enclosure) when after the visit of the Polish Port State Control Inspector on the mentioned vessel the crew member on board the ship was provided with the contact details to the mentioned PSC Inspector if he needed any assistance.

On 3rd June the Polish Port State Control Inspector received information from Georgian seafarer employed on vessel SARAH, IMO Number 8120478, Flag: Comoros that he didn’t receive wages for the last 6 months. Therefore, attempts were made to contact the shipowner. The shipowner although ignored the contact attempts or said that he will call back after familiarizing with the issue.

On June 4, 2025, after receiving information that the mentioned seafarers has no food on board the Port State Control Inspector had visited the ship to verify the actual state of affairs on the ship with the information provided by the seafarers. During the visit it was noticed that the generator was switched off due to the small amount of fuel on board. The crew member was in complete darkness, without ventilation and without the possibility of using sanitary facilities - no cold or hot water in the sinks and showers. The crew member was without a valid contract, on board for over 11 months, buying provisions with his own money.

Therefore, further attempts were made to contact the shipowner. After further unsuccessful attempts to contact the shipowner on June 6, 2025, the Polish Port State Control Inspector informed the flag state of the ship – Comoros about the mentioned deficiencies. At the same time, the notice with the final deadline for solving the problem was sent to the shipowner's representative and to the recruitment agency employing the crew.

Due to the lack of response from the shipowner and the agency employing the crew, the vessel was detained in Gdynia on June 11 until the deficiencies in question, concerning the MLC Convention requirements for working and living on board the ship, were remedied.

After the detention note was issued, the crew member received 150,00 EUR from the shipowner for current needs.

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