Sea Lord
16 seafarers abandoned on the Sea Lord (IMO 9281413, flag Comoros) in Ngqura, South Africa, 1 October 2025. ILO case 1558, status: Unresolved.
- Status
- Unresolved
- Abandonment ID
- 1558
- IMO Number
- 9281413
- Flag
- Comoros
- Port of Abandonment
- Ngqura, South Africa
- Abandonment Date
- 1 October 2025
- Notification Date
- 18 December 2025
- Seafarers
- 16
- Reporting Org.
- International Transport Workers' Federation
Circumstances
Outstanding wages of 3 months. Crew went on strike and PSC detained the vessel
Seafarers applied to insurer?: TBC
Insurance certificate dates: 26th May 2025 to 23rd December 2025
Updates
8 May 2026: South Africa
(From the South African Maritime Safety Authority)
REPORT ON ABANDONED VESSEL MV SEA LORD
1. Purpose
1.1. Report on SAMSA’s intervention and status on seafarer welfare issues involving the subject vessel.
2. Background
2.1. On 03 November 2026, an application was submitted by the Vessel’s Local Agent to load IMDG Class 1 Containers x 2 with an ETA of 09 November 2025.
2.2. Part of the pre-loading inspection includes reviewing the vessel’s Port State Control Inspection History. The PSC history indicated that the vessel had been detained 5 times since the beginning of 2024.
2.3. A tipoff was received from a local shipping agency that the crew were owed wages, prior to the vessel docking.
2.4. Upon berthing on 14 November 2026. Based on the history of the vessel a PSC Inspection was conducted with the vessel issued with a PSC report detailing 42 deficiencies, one of which was the non-payment of crew’s wages. A detention notice was issued based on the nature and number of the deficiencies.
3. SAMSA’s intervention
3.1. SAMSA quickly assumed its Port State role as envisioned in the ILO/IMO Guidelines on how to deal with seafarer abandonment cases 2022 and facilitated assistance to the crew.
3.2. After the detention without delay SAMSA notified the ITF Inspector who was in South Africa at the time.
3.3. On 07 January 2026, SAMSA received a crew complaint via Mr ***, a local ITF Lawyer.
3.4. On 08 January 2026, SAMSA conducted an inspection aboard the Sea Lord with the following findings:
• No Fresh Water onboard - Crew unable to shower,
• No food supplies,
• No electricity - Deisel Oil being sparingly used,
• No garbage disposal facilities – garbage accumulating on deck,
• The local agent no longer providing services to the vessel due to non-payment of agency fees.
• The vessel was indeed under arrest with 2 x court cases.
3.5. On 09 January 2026, SAMSA delivered food to the crew enough to survive for two weeks.
3.6. Additionally, SAMSA facilitated provision of water by the Port Authority as well as management and removal of garbage.
3.7. SAMSA also facilitated the involvement of the Mission to Seafarers to ensure support to the crew. The Mission to Seafarers has been highly instrumental in providing more than just mental and spiritual upliftment but also provisions.
3.8. The ITF took over the provision of food at the end of the two weeks.
3.9. SAMSA continued to monitor the situation in the interest of seafarer welfare.
4. Legal processes
4.1. Efforts to facilitate payment of the wages included the arrest of the vessel and a court order for the sale of the vessel by auction. This has been led by the ITF. Unfortunately, this process has been frustrated mostly by the failure of the auction. Experts attributed this to the US/Iran war starting and the subsequent increase in bunker prices as well as the instability in the scrap market in general.
4.2. The vessel was expected to sell for around US$250k, however the highest bid came at +-US$100k. The amount is not enough to cover the wages owed to the crew as a result the crew have refused to sign the court papers mandating the sale.
4.3. There was an attempt to get a second offer. However, the auction did not materialise. There seem to be no interest on the vessel at the moment.
4.4. Whilst the vessel is under the court, SAMSA is unable to engage with the process nor influence it. SAMSA is also unable to officially liaise with the owner as the vessel is in the hands of the court. However, SAMSA remains at the disposal of the crew.
4.5. Amid the sale process, the owner has been able to pay salaries of a few crew members and has repatriated some. At some point the crew believed he was going to save the vessel.
4.6. The best outcome for the crew was if the owner came forward, paid all outstanding wages and repatriate the crew.
4.7. Currently there is a standoff between the crew and the auctioneers as the crew have refused to accept the offer from the auction which was going to see them forfeit a large percentage of their owed wages.
4.8. The Developing story is that the auctioneers have grown impatient with the process and have initiated legal action by submitting a court application for authorisation of the sale, despite the crew’s protest. The Auctioneer seems determined to get their money.
4.9. Should the auctioneers get their way the crew will be forced to disembark the vessel at short notice.
4.10. The ITF is following these proceedings closely and has kept SAMSA and the crew up to date.
5. Latest on food provisions
5.1. After SAMSA’s intervention in January, the ITF has confirmed that they have been providing food to the vessel through a prominent ship chandler ever since.
5.2. According to the ITF the food supply has been consistent and only last week has the chandler raised concerns about their unpaid invoices. The chandler will also be paid from the proceeds of the sale of the vessel.
5.3. The email from the crew members have been circulated widely around the world to the frustration of the ITF representatives. There is understanding that the crew are getting frustrated by the process and the dire financial situation they find themselves in. However, they know exactly where the process is currently at and some of the claims by the crew especially of not receiving food have been labelled as disingenuous by stakeholders involved in the matter. The crew know that they have been supplied with food and water consistently.
5.4. The issue that frustrates the crew the most is the fact that they are mostly likely not going to recoup their full wages which is unfortunate. Unfortunately, none of the stakeholders can influence the court processes nor the sale price.
6. Conclusion
6.1. SAMSA is currently waiting for the outcome of the Auctioneers’ application for the sale to go ahead. The matter has been expected to be heard sometime during this week (04 – 08 May 2026).
6.2. In pre-empting the possible outcome that might result in a sale of the ship, leaving the seafarers stranded. On 29 April 2026, SAMSA met with the ITF legal representative, Mr *** as well as Indian Consular, Mr *** in Durban.
6.3. The discussions centred around the developing events surrounding the Indian crew on board the Sea Lord. The discussions also touched on the possible financial contribution by the Indian Consulate for repatriating the crew in the event of an immediate sale or if the sale amount is not sufficient.
6.4. The Indian Consulate has responded positively to the request.
6.5. The crew is very worried about not getting their full wages and this has driven them to write to everyone out of desperation. The assistance by the Indian Consulate will go a long way in ensuring that repatriation costs are not deducted from the claim.
6.6. Unfortunately attempts to contact the Myanmar embassy has not been successful.
6.7. SAMSA will continue to monitor the situation.
28 April 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
On the Sea Lord, ITF's lawyer has advised that food, water and power are all supplied via the bailiff.
The vessel has not reached a price at auction that will cover the debts and the court has refused to approve the sale to date. We are awaiting further progress. Meanwhile the owners are slowly getting around to repatriations with two crew signing off today.
27 April 2026: Other
(From the seafarer requesting the intervention)
I am writing to report the detention of the ship [MV sealord], [9281413], by the Port State Control (PSC) authorities in [Ngqura Port ] due to non-payment of crew wages and 42 deficiencies noted during the inspection.
The ship is managed by Astol Albar Ship Management LLC, Dubai, and represented by RPSL agent M/S Casablanca. Despite repeated requests, the company has failed to respond or resolve the crew's salary issues. Last five month company not supply any provision and fresh water only psc give all these now all crew contract finish please help to talk to owner I need to comback home town with salary our family suffering too much issue last 5 month salary not give company if contact to company or rpsl means not response so as soon as possible please solve this issue Already finish our contract.
I request your intervention to:
- Facilitate payment of outstanding wages
- Ensure repatriation of the crew
I am writing on behalf of all crew members currently onboard to bring your urgent attention to our critical situation.
All 15 crew members have completed their contracts of 9 months; however, the company has only paid 4 months' salary so far. The remaining 5 months of pending salary have not been paid, and despite repeated attempts to contact the company over the past several months, we have received no response.
Additionally, for the last four months, the company has failed to provide basic provisions and support. We are currently surviving only with the assistance of the South African Port Authority, which has been supplying us with food and fresh water. The company has taken no responsibility for our welfare.
Our situation has now become extremely serious. All crew members are under severe stress and depression due to unpaid wages, uncertainty regarding sign-off, and the financial difficulties faced by our families back home.
We would also like to highlight a very urgent humanitarian concern: one of our crew members, Mr. ***, recently lost his brother. This information was immediately communicated to the company, but there has been no response or support from their side.
We have already submitted complaints to DG Shipping, MMD, and other relevant authorities. However, our condition continues to deteriorate, and we are unsure how we can continue to remain onboard under such circumstances without support, salary, or clear communication.
We kindly request your immediate intervention to:
Ensure payment of all pending salaries
Arrange for crew sign-off at the earliest Provide necessary support for crew welfare and safety We sincerely hope you will treat this matter with the urgency it deserves and take immediate action.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
18 December 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
The vessel remains moored Finger Jetty Berth C100/101. The Mission of Seafarers reports that the crew are on a go-slow, demoralized and angry.