Berkat Tuah
13 seafarers abandoned on the Berkat Tuah (IMO 9706164, flag Malaysia) in Hamriyah, United Arab Emirates, 1 December 2025. ILO case 1608, status: Unresolved.
- Status
- Unresolved
- Abandonment ID
- 1608
- IMO Number
- 9706164
- Flag
- Malaysia
- Port of Abandonment
- Hamriyah, United Arab Emirates
- Abandonment Date
- 1 December 2025
- Notification Date
- 6 February 2026
- Seafarers
- 13
- Reporting Org.
- International Transport Workers' Federation
Circumstances
Outstanding wages for 4 months
Seafarers applied to insurer?: Yes
Insurance certificate dates: 20th February 2025 to 20th February 2026
Updates
8 September 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
Last 5 crew repatriated but still yet to be paid in full.
29 July 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
MV BERKAT TUAH, IMO 9706164 The last 5 seafarers who were still stranded on board are now repatriated. However, they have outstanding wages. Special Committee was created to follow up with this.
22 June 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
Berkat Tyuah: No update. This is the worrying case where seafarers expressed deep psychological and mental distress and that themselves referred that could lead to potential tragedy o suicide. The ITF Trust approved a 1000 Usd as Humanitarian help o their families to alleviate the situation while waiting for a solution.
22 June 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
In light of the anticipated reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and following welcome reports of a 60-day pause in the conflict after a prolonged period of uncertainty, the ITF wishes to draw attention to several urgent cases involving vessels whose crews have been abandoned in the Gulf due to the absence of responsible shipowners.
The ITF is concerned that, as maritime traffic resumes in the region, the fate of abandoned seafarers will be overlooked, with little prospect of resolution anytime soon.
We believe this presents an opportunity for the ILO and IMO, through their diplomatic channels, to help address the dire situation faced by these seafarers, who now simply wish to return home after being caught in circumstances entirely beyond their control.
It is also an opportunity to highlight to coastal states in the Persian Gulf the risks posed by unscrupulous shipowners who may seek to exploit the region as a place to abandon ships and seafarers.
Among the many cases reported to us, we believe those outlined below are particularly urgent and require immediate intervention by UN agencies. All possible efforts by our representatives to engage with flag states, port authorities, P&I clubs, and ship agents, have not yet resulted in any tangible improvement in the crews’ wellbeing.
3. MV BERKAT TUAH, IMO 9706164 (UAE) – Four Malaysian crew members and one Indonesian crew member have been kept behind while the rest of the crew have been repatriated. A message received yesterday indicates that one or more seafarers are in a state of extreme exhaustion and distress, including thoughts of suicide, raising serious concerns for their safety.
There are many other cases in addition to those listed above; however, we would be grateful if priority could be given to these, as the remaining seafarers appear to have reached breaking point. We are increasingly concerned about their welfare and the risk of self-harm if their situation is not urgently resolved.
All relevant flag states were contacted when the seafarers first approached us; however, little progress has been made in addressing their situation.
The ITF would welcome the opportunity to discuss these cases further and to engage with the relevant port states in the countries where the seafarers remain abandoned.
We have attached a video received from the crew of the Almaher, which illustrates more clearly than words alone the stressful situation and conditions the seafarers are currently enduring.
16 June 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
Seafarers were paid 4 months wages by the P&I and 8 were repatriated. However, there are still 5 seafarers (4 Malaysians and 1 Indonesian) on board seeking to be paid & repatriated.
6 February 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
Some of the seafarers are without valid SEA. Crew seeking assistance with repatriation.