Kayan

14 seafarers abandoned on the Kayan (IMO 9015981, flag United Republic of Tanzania) in Bandar Abbas, Iran (Islamic Republic of), 26 October 2024. ILO case 1451, status: Unresolved.

Status: Unresolved
Abandonment ID: 1451
IMO Number: 9015981
Flag: United Republic of Tanzania
Port of Abandonment: Bandar Abbas, Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Abandonment Date: 26 October 2024
Notification Date: 4 September 2025
Seafarers: 14
Reporting Org.: International Transport Workers' Federation

Circumstances

Outstanding wages of between 5 and 12 months, lack of provisions, fresh water and diesel

Seafarers applied to insurer?: No
Insurance certificate dates: N/A

Updates

28 April 2026: International Labour Organization
As a general practice, the flag State for abandonment cases is initially recorded based on the information provided in the first report. It is then corrected and updated in accordance with vessel information and official notifications from IMO, as well as any explicit correction requests received from relevant organizations such as S&P Global.

Based on these criteria, I have reviewed the seven cases raised by Tanzania, and my findings are as follows:

1. Youyi Yi (8358518), Shahin (9104378), Al Madad I (9501928), and Rapid (8918233): According to the ITF reports, IMO vessel verification (GISIS and Equasis), and the IMO notifications at the time, the flag State was recorded as Tanzania. As no subsequent requests for correction have been received, these cases remain recorded as Tanzania in the database.

2. Maybach (8134522): The initial ITF report listed Tanzania, while IMO GISIS and the official notification recorded it as "Guyana False." However, on 15 April 2025, S&P Global confirmed the flag State as Tanzania. Tanzania acknowledged receipt of this information on the same date and has provided no further comments since. Therefore, it remains listed as Tanzania.

3. Kayan (9015981): At the time of the occurrence of the abandonment on 26 October 2024, the vessel was registered under Zanzibar (United Republic of Tanzania) as the flag State, and the database has reflected Tanzania as the flag State. However, as of 1 September 2025, when the abandonment was officially notified, the flag State was Comoros. Comoros is currently undertaking the necessary follow-up actions in its capacity as the current flag State. This information has been duly reflected in the case records while maintaining Tanzania as the flag State at the time of the incident.

4. Prosperity 1 (7715422): The ITF report (7 October 2024) listed Tanzania, but this was corrected to Guyana False following IMO vessel verification and the notification dated 13 October 2024.

Regarding the cases stated as "not attributable to the Tanzania Flag administration," we have updated the record for Prosperity 1 (IMO 7715422) as it was verified as "Guyana False" based on the record of IMO GISIS and Equasis at that time. For all other cases, we have maintained the Tanzanian flag while including the administration's official position in the comments section.

22 April 2026: United Republic of Tanzania
(From the High Commission of the United Republic of Tanzania)

Vessel deregistered prior to the reported abandonment; not under Tanzania flag at the material time.

9 February 2026: Syrian Arab Republic
(From the General Directorate of Ports)

We acknowledge receipt of your email and have taken careful note of the extremely serious humanitarian situation described therein.
The Directorate of Marine Inspection, under the General Directorate of Syrian Ports, expresses its deep concern regarding the conditions of the crew and fully recognizes that the circumstances outlined clearly constitute a case of abandonment within the meaning of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended.

At the outset, we must clarify that the vessel is currently located in an Iranian port, and that the Syrian Arab Republic is neither the Flag State nor the Port State concerned. Furthermore, there are no direct operational or administrative channels available to us to intervene with the Port State authorities. Accordingly, the Directorate of Marine Inspection has no jurisdiction or practical means to take direct action on board the vessel.

Nevertheless, and in view of the gravity of the humanitarian situation and the imminent risk to the lives of the crew, we consider it essential that all competent parties act without further delay. In this regard, we fully concur with your reference to Regulation 2.5 and Standard A2.5.2 of the MLC, 2006, which unequivocally place the responsibility for repatriation upon the shipowner and require that no judicial, administrative, or other obstacles impede such repatriation.

Given the above, we urge the Flag State Administration, the Port State authorities, and the relevant international organizations, including the IMO and ILO, to take immediate and effective measures to:
- Facilitate the urgent disembarkation of the crew;
- Ensure their repatriation without delay or obstruction; and
- Provide immediate humanitarian assistance pending repatriation, including food, water, and essential services.

With respect to Syrian nationals among the crew, this Directorate formally supports any international efforts undertaken through the appropriate channels to secure their safe disembarkation and return, and we stand ready to cooperate with the IMO, ILO, and ITF within the limits of our jurisdiction.

The continued deterioration of the situation is unacceptable, and the protection of human life at sea must remain the overriding priority.

5 February 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
The first time that the ITF reported about the abandonment was in August 2025, however, the crew had become abandoned in November 2024. As I write this email, there are crew members who have been on board for Twenty (20) months. In your last email of the 17th of November 2025. You appealed for the kind cooperation of all parties. Today, the 5th of January 2026, the situation has reached an alarming state. The crew are dying of hunger, thirst and they are in the most appalling conditions, without electricity for most of the day. Now they have completely run out of diesel for their generators.

The ship owner, the Flag state, the Port state, the governments of the countries of nationality of the crew and the international community have miserably failed these persons.

After so many months, a judicial process has been initiated by the Iranian authorities, and the crew have had a lawyer appointed by the Iranian Union to represent them. In the meantime, while the process is supposed to be ongoing these people are dying of hunger and exposed to imminent danger to their lives. They must immediately leave the vessel.

The MLC 2006 as amended Regulation 2.5, Standard A2.5.2 paragraph 5 is unequivocal as to who is legally responsible for their repatriation, while paragraphs 7, 8.and 9 of the same regulation and standard make it absolutely clear that there shall be no obstacles whatsoever to the repatriation of the crew.

We are therefore imploring the Flag state, the Port state, and the respective governments- Syrian, Indian and Egyptian to immediately provide repatriation for these persons The Captain RIC is helpless and we cannot dismiss his and the crew’s desperate pleas. They cannot be left to die on board this ship.

17 November 2025: International Maritime Organisation
IMO would be very grateful to receiving further comments from the maritime authority of Comoros as the flag State notified on 1 September 2025.

IMO is looking forward for the kind cooperation of all parties concerned to resolving this very severe abandonment case.

17 November 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
While I thank you for your email and attached letter of commitment sent by the owner, I note that he committed himself to settle all outstanding wages within a period not exceeding ten (10) days from the date of the letter, the 6th of November 2025. The ten days expired yesterday and now , as I write , even the 11th day.

In the meantime, after the failure of the owner and Flag State to provide humanitarian aid to the crew, I have asked the PSC of Hormosgan to supply provisions and in fact, today the crew were supplied with diesel and provisions. I also understand that the Iranian Authorities were to contact you and the owners, even though the latter have been unresponsive, to determine the way forward.

You may even know that the Royal 1 IMO 9109005, also flying the flag of Comoros and owned by the same owner of the Kayan, is in Tartous awaiting to undergo some repairs or services in the shipyard. It seems that the owner is in funds to maintain the Royal 1 but not the crew of the Kayan and their wages. We have unconfirmed information that the crew of the Royal 1- presumably, all Syrians, are also owed wages.

13 November 2025: International Maritime Organisation
The received renewed request for cooperation by the flag State Comoros is duly noted and will be recorded on the joint IMO/ILO database on abandonment of seafarers. IMO would be very grateful to receiving further comments from the maritime authority of Comoros as the flag State notified on 1 September 2025.

IMO is looking forward for the kind cooperation of all parties concerned to resolving this very severe abandonment case.

13 November 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
(From the ITF Inspector Molta)
Thank you for your email and attachment. Please find my comments.

Last Saturday evening, I received a phone call from Mr. *** on behalf of Mr. XXX. He suggested that Mr. XXX had received a cash injection and he would like to settle the matter with a payment of 70% of the wages. He asked me to communicate this to the crew. This was odd, because Mr. *** was in constant contact with the crew and he could have made the offer himself.

Nonetheless, on Sunday, I had a video call with all the crew and it was decided that they would settle for an improved offer of 85% together with the full reimbursement of the money defrayed by the crew, particularly the captain, towards engineering works conducted on the ship, The captain has a Letter of Guarantee that the company would reimburse $25,0000 which he had paid out of his pocket.

I communicated this decision to Mr *** on the same Sunday. Since then, Mr. ***, Mr. XXX and Ms OOO went completely silent, ignoring all my WhatsApp messages.

The letter of commitment offers no guarantee and credibility. Last September, when I informed Mr. XXX of the ITF’s decision to pay a substantial amount of money for the food, fresh and drinking water and diesel for the generators, I had a very similar commitment by Mr. XXX himself, during a conference call with him and Mr. ***, whereby he assure me that he will be reimbursing the ITF within 20 days. It did not happen.

A visit to the ###’s offices in the UAE revealed that they were empty and none of the calls to its two phone numbers were replied to. ### is not on the list of approved maritime agencies which is held by FTA.

I find it very strange that, after calling me last Saturday and asking me to approach the crew, they did not come back to me after I had relayed the crew’s decision. Yet, now, they deliver this commitment to the Flag State.

While I hope that this letter of commitment is not just a piece of paper to appease all parties and buy him time while holding to his vessel, we should not rest on our laurels. We must prepare for the repatriation of the crew after we would have taken measures to secure their maritime liens.

Therefore, if we come to the point of having to repatriate the crew in the event of the owner’s failure, we implore the Comoros Flag State, to act in accordance with the MLC 2006 as amended, Regulation 2.5, Standard A 2.5.2 Paragraph 5 (a) and repatriate the crew. Your reply is much appreciated.

13 November 2025: Comoros
(From the National Agency of Maritime Affair)

We have received the owner’s latest statement; please find the letter attached for your kind perusal.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(From the ship owner)

We, as the legal owner of the vessel KAYAN (9015981), hereby affirm our full commitment to settle all outstanding dues owed to the crew and to fulfil all obligations related to the vessel within a period not exceeding ten (10) days from the date of this letter.

We recognize the importance of ensuring the rights and welfare of the crew, as well as maintaining compliance with all maritime and governmental requirements. Accordingly, we are taking all necessary measures to complete the financial and operational settlements in a timely and transparent manner.

We appreciate your cooperation and oversight and remain available for any further clarification or coordination required.

13 November 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
(From the ITF Inspector Molta)

Good morning and thank you for your email and input in this matter.
The first reaction came from Mr. ***, ***, under who falls the responsibility of Bandar Abbas port. We spoke and later he sent me an email.
Basically, he said that the owners remained unresponsive to several communications sent to them and that the local agent of the ship has very limited capabilities.

The port authority is seeking approval from Teheran to file a judicial arrest on the basis that the vessel is of danger to navigation and to recover the respective dues owed to the port authority.

I raised the issue of the crew and how to secure their lien over the vessel and suggested a way by which, during an eventual judicial arrest, the crew’s rights will be secured by having their claim as privileged creditors, filed in an intervention during eventual court process.
Possibly and desirably , the crew will be repatriated by the Port authorities immediately after appointing an attorney. This to avoid having them remaining on board during the process and thus avoiding logistics problems which, from experience, such period of wait will bring.

I suggested that either a berth is given to the vessel and then watchmen will be appointed or, if that would not be possible, a local crew will replace the present crew. This in the light that all the crew are mentally and physically exhausted.

Being the first on the list of rankings, the port authority can recover all theses costs from the court disbursement of the funds deposited from the eventual sale of the vessel. It appears that there are already two prospective buyers and this makes it imperative on us to secure the crew’s rights.

12 November 2025: International Maritime Organisation
The received urgent request for cooperation by the flag State Comoros is duly noted and will be recorded on the joint IMO/ILO database on abandonment of seafarers. IMO would be very grateful to receiving further comments from the maritime authority of Comoros as the flag State notified on 1 September 2025.

IMO is looking forward for the kind cooperation of all parties concerned to resolving this very severe abandonment case.

12 November 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
(From the ITF Inspector Malta)

I refer to my email of below. The least that you can do is to provide us with valid contact details of the Yemeni owner or the company . With your registry walking away from ‘your’ ship, the crew have no one else but the ITF to assist them. We urgently need to contact the owners.
The provisions and diesel which the ITF has provided them have been exhausted and the crew have been at anchorage in Bandar Abbas for eight months. Some crew have been onboard for 15 months and unpaid for more than 12 months. The vessel is without a valid P&I and should an accident occur the crew is not covered by an insurance policy. Can the situation be worse? The least you can do is to cooperate with us!

4 November 2025: India
(From the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways)
With reference to your below email regarding the abandonment of the vessel 'Kayan' (IMO No. 9015981), we have noted that there is no available data on Indian seafarers working on board this vessel in the E-Governance system of the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS).

2. In light of this, it is challenging to examine the matter further without the details of Indian seafarers currently working on board the vessel. Therefore, we kindly request you to provide the necessary details of the Indian seafarers to help resolve this issue.

3 November 2025: International Maritime Organisation
IMO would be very grateful to receiving further comments from the maritime authority of Comoros as the flag State on how the obligations of the shipowner and the flag State are being upheld, also in guaranteeing financial security, as required by MLC, 2006 and from the port State Iran (Islamic Republic of,) on how to cooperate with the flag State in resolving this severe abandonment case.

3 November 2025: Comoros
(From the National Agency of Maritime Affairs)

Despite this Administration’s previous directives and the suspension of Vessel you have failed to take any corrective action regarding the abandonment of
seafarers and MLC non-compliance.
Your continued disregard of official instructions is unacceptable and constitutes willful neglect of international obligations.
Unless full crew relief, wage settlement, and repatriation arrangements are confirmed within 48 hours, this Administration will proceed with permanent
withdrawal of the vessel’s registration, and formal notification will be issued to ILO, IMO, and all Port State Control authorities for enforcement and
blacklisting.

3 November 2025: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
(From Hormozgan Port State Control, Shahid Rajaee Port)

Further to discussions regarding the situation of the M/V KAYAN (IMO: 9015981) at Shahid Rajaee Port, please be advised that the series of emails exchanged between the Hormozgan Port State Control (Shahid Rajaee Port) and the vessel's Owner, Manager, and Local Agent are now available for your review.
This correspondence outlines the escalating situation, the initial commitments made, and the subsequent formal ultimatum issued by the Port State Control due to a lack of tangible corrective action.
We believe these documents will provide you with the necessary context and evidence for your follow-up and oversight of this serious matter.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information or clarification.

30 October 2025: India
(From the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways)
With reference to your below mail regarding the abandonment of the vessel 'Kayan' (IMO No. 9015981), we have noted that there is no available data on Indian seafarers working on board this vessel in the E-Governance system of the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS).

29 October 2025: International Maritime Organisation
Flag: Comoros on 1 September 2025 and previously Zanzibar (United Republic of Tanzania) as currently on IMO GISIS

IMO would be very grateful to receiving further comments from both the maritime authority of Zanzibar (United Republic of Tanzania) as the flag State at the time of the occurrence of the abandonment on 26 October 2024, and to whom to whom the notification of this case was previously sent on 15 September 2025, and the maritime authority of Comoros as the flag State notified on 1 September 2025.

29 October 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
(From the ITF_Malta)

Thank you for your email. The documents which I attach herewith clearly indicate that Comoros was identified as the flag state for the Kayan. It could be by oversight, probably after looking at the provisional certificate of registration, that Tanzania was identified as the flag state. Perhaps since it is identified as the previous flag.
My first official email to Comoros was on the 2nd of September after having notified them on the 1st of September. I submitted the ILO abandonment from on the 3rd of September and Comoros is listed as the Flag state.

For your information, today I received a call from the spokesperson of the owner, and he promised to communicate my message to him.

17 September 2025: India
(From the Directorate General of Shipping)

With reference to below trailing mail regarding the abandonment of the vessel Kayan (IMO No. 9015981), we have noted that there is no available data on Indian seafarers working on board this vessel in the E-Governance system of the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS).

4 September 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
Provisional certificate of registration from the vessel shows that the vessel is under the Comoros flag along with other ship’s certificates

ILO record · Map of all abandonment cases