Seafari (Saefari)

4 seafarers abandoned on the Seafari (Saefari) (IMO 8909056, flag Gambia) in Stornoway, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 22 September 2025. ILO case 1530, status: Disputed.

Status
Disputed
Abandonment ID
1530
IMO Number
8909056
Flag
Gambia
Port of Abandonment
Stornoway, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Abandonment Date
22 September 2025
Notification Date
13 November 2025
Seafarers
4
Reporting Org.
International Transport Workers' Federation

Circumstances

Vessel name: Seafari (initially reported by the ITF)

Flag: Iceland (initially reported by the ITF)

Contracts do not comply with MLC, unpaid wages of 1.5 months and repatriation costs pending

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

Updates

5 January 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
Crew repatriated but remains unpaid.

Disputed.

2 December 2025: International Maritime Organisation
The Fishing Vessel which was initially recorded on IMO GISIS and Equasis with the name ‘SAEFARI’, IMO Number 8360688, Flag: Iceland, but which now has officially confirmed having the name ‘SAFARI’, IMO Number 8360688, Flag: Gambia from 11 August 2025 onwards

In particular, IMO would like to be kindly informed further by the flag State Gambia how the owed wages will be paid, and the repatriation costs will be reimbursed so that this this new abandonment case could be resolved as soon as possible.

2 December 2025: Gambia
I am pleased to inform you that the fishing vessel SAFARI was provisionally registered under the Gambian flag on 11th August 2025 and the registration should cease on 11th November 2025. There is no extension of the provisional certificate from The Gambia Maritime Administration.

2 December 2025: Other
(From the S&P Global)

I have reached out to Iceland who confirmed vessel was deleted from their register on 12th September 2025 to “GAMBIA” (no other details supplied).
We were not aware of this at the time and in fact vessel remained on their website.
We have also just written to Gambia Authorities asking them to urgently advise if vessel was legally registered under their flag. Have requested urgent response.
In the interim we have updated our records and removed vessel from Iceland flag and put to unknown flag pending response from Gambia Authorities.

1 December 2025: International Maritime Organisation
Vessel name: ‘SAEFARI’ on IMO GISIS and Equasis

Flag: Iceland, but allegedly changed to: Gambia

18 November 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
Crew repatriated without owed wages.

Disputed.

17 November 2025: International Maritime Organisation
For the ship “Saefari”, GISIS lists it as “Fanney”. Please note the slight difference in spelling too (Saefari vs Seafari).

13 November 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
Vessel detained and owner has severed ties with both crew and vessel. ITF have covered the cost of the crew’s repatriation.
The vessel changed flag to Gambia in September, however EQUASIS and other maritime data providers are still reporting Iceland as the flag

ILO record · Map of all abandonment cases