Katsuya
25 seafarers abandoned on the Katsuya (IMO 9178068, flag Gambia), 1 August 2025. ILO case 1458, status: Unresolved.
- Status
- Unresolved
- Abandonment ID
- 1458
- IMO Number
- 9178068
- Flag
- Gambia
- Abandonment Date
- 1 August 2025
- Notification Date
- 15 September 2025
- Seafarers
- 25
- Reporting Org.
- International Transport Workers' Federation
Circumstances
The initial report from ITF indicated Singapore as the port of abandonment; however, this was subsequently corrected by MPA (Singapore).
Outstanding wages of 3 months, employment contracts expired for half of the crew and a severe shortage of food and water.
Seafarers applied to insurer?: No
Insurance certificate dates: 15th February 2025 to 14th February 2026
Updates
1 July 2026: Other
(From the shipping company)
Thank you for your reply and for your observations regarding the abandonment case of MT KATSUYA (IMO: 9178068).
We would like to seek clarification regarding the concerns raised in your email.
As previously submitted, we have already attached the bank transfer records/letters confirming the salary payments made to each individual Indian crew member. The bank records clearly show that the respective salary amounts were successfully credited to each crew member's personal bank account given by them.
In your email, you mentioned that an Indian seafarer stated that he was forced to sign the No Objection Certificate (NOC) and that the salary mentioned in the NOC was never credited to his bank account.
We would therefore appreciate it if you could kindly provide the following details:
• The name of the crew member who has made this allegation that he was forced to sign any kind of NOC.
• The basis or evidence supporting this claim that the salary was not credited to his account.
As per the salary payment records and bank confirmations already shared, the salary was successfully transferred to every Indian crew member's bank account.
The banking records are self-explanatory and confirm the successful credit of wages.
Therefore, we request you to kindly identify the concerned crew member so that we may verify the matter further and, if necessary, obtain clarification directly from the bank or the individual concerned.
We look forward to your response.
1 July 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
(From the local inspector)
Thank you for your email and for the information provided.
We acknowledge that a number of the Indian seafarers have now been repatriated and that some have received payment. This has already been reflected in our records and we appreciate the efforts made in relation to those crew members.
However, at this stage we are unable to close the abandonment case or support the removal of MT KATSUYA (IMO 9178068) from the IMO/ILO abandonment database.
As previously advised, not all crew members have received their outstanding wages. Please find attached the supporting documents relating to the crew members who remain unpaid, including the Georgian seafarers who have already returned home but have still not received their outstanding salaries.
We also note the information provided by the Indian seafarer regarding the No Objection Certificate (NOC). He has advised that although he signed the document, he did so because he was informed that his documents and certificates would not be returned unless he signed. He further states that the salary referred to in the NOC was never credited to his bank account. This raises concerns regarding the reliability of the NOC as evidence that payment was actually received.
While we understand that the Georgian crew were not employed through an Indian crewing agency, they remain crew members of the same vessel and are covered by the abandonment case. The abandonment cannot be considered resolved until all seafarers, regardless of nationality or crewing agency, have been paid their full outstanding wages and all other entitlements.
Once evidence is provided confirming that every affected crew member has received full payment, we will be happy to review the case for closure.
Thank you for your continued cooperation.
26 June 2026: India
(From the Directorate General of Shipping)
With reference to the trailing email received from RPSL, I am directed to request you to examine the submitted documents and resolve the case in the ILO/IMO database.
If any additional documents or information are required, kindly let us know so that the same may be provided at the earliest.
21 May 2026: Other
(From the shipping company)
This is with reference to our previous email regarding MT KATSUYA (IMO 9178068).
We would like to kindly follow up and request your assistance in updating the status and removing the vessel from the IMO/ILO list, as all pending matters have already been resolved.
We confirm once again that:
• All crew members have received their full and final pending salaries.
• All crew members have safely returned back to India.
• No outstanding claims remain from any crew member.
For your kind reference, we are re-attaching the following supporting documents:
1. Crew salary transfer confirmation / NOC issued by the crew
2. Return flight tickets of all crew members
3. Crew Portage Bill and Allotment Details
We kindly request you to process the necessary update and confirm once the vessel has been removed from the IMO/ILO abandonment list at the earliest.
Looking forward to your positive response and continuous support.
11 December 2025: India
from the Directorate General of Shipping.
This is to inform you that the Directorate General of Shipping has initiated multiple actions to expedite the repatriation and wage settlement of the affected seafarers.
The following steps have been undertaken:
1. Letters have been issued to the concerned RPSL companies directing them to expedite the repatriation process and ensure timely settlement of wages.
2. The Directorate Seamen’s Employment Office (DSEO) has been instructed to:
◦ Intimate the concerned parties regarding the case,
◦ Follow up regularly with the respective RPSL companies, and
◦ Conduct hearings with the RPSL companies wherever required.
3. The MEA (Division-wise) has been informed about the case to facilitate additional details and necessary coordination.
4. A Demi-Official (DO) letter has been issued to the MoPSW for their intimation and further guidance.
Kindly find attached the excel sheet with case wise updates. It is our humble request to update this in the IMO/ILO Joint database under comments and observation section. We will also be sending regular updates regarding each case as and when we get case notifications so that it can be uploaded in the comments and observation section.
This coordinated approach is aimed at ensuring timely resolution of the matter.
Please let me know if any further information is required.
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Letters issued to the concerned RPSL Companies, P&I, Flag, Port, Embassy, DSEO and MEA Division
The concerned RPSL Companies has informed that the salaries have been paid to the crew. Ms. *** has mentioned in the mail, that there is no issue with the RPSL Companies they have paid the salaries but there are 7 crews who have not been paid by the owners and she has been repeatedly mailing the owners but they have not yet responded to any of her mails.
18 September 2025: Singapore
(From the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore)
Singapore notes the update provided by IMO regarding the abandonment of vessel, M.T. KATSUYA (IMO 9178068).
Based on our internal records, the vessel has not called at Singapore’s port since February 2023.
We would like to highlight that the Maritime and Port of Singapore (MPA) received a similar notification from ITF (*****) on 15 Sep 2025, and had provided the same clarifications.
Nevertheless, MPA would take appropriate actions, if/when the vessel calls at Singapore’s port.
We request that the above information be reflected in the joint IMO/ILO database. Thank you and we remain at your disposal.