World Trader
3 seafarers abandoned on the World Trader (IMO 7000724, flag Belize) in Brest, France, 1 December 2025. ILO case 1640, status: Unresolved.
- Status
- Unresolved
- Abandonment ID
- 1640
- IMO Number
- 7000724
- Flag
- Belize
- Port of Abandonment
- Brest, France
- Abandonment Date
- 1 December 2025
- Notification Date
- 19 February 2026
- Seafarers
- 3
- Reporting Org.
- International Transport Workers' Federation
Circumstances
Outstanding wages for 4 months
Seafarers applied to insurer?: No
Insurance certificate dates: N/A
Updates
25 March 2026: France
(From the Deputy permanent representative of France to the International maritime Organization)
Please find hereafter the comments of France regarding the case of World Trader (7000724).
Following an event at sea, the tug World Trader (7000724), flag of Belize, arrived at the port of Brest (France) on 8 December 2025, and was detained after a Port State Control inspection. Eight crew members were on board.
A first complaint by two Ukrainian seafarers was relayed on 5 December 2025 by the ITF representative to the French Maritime Authorities. On 9 December 2025, French Authorities delivered the shipowner a formal notice to ensure an adequate supply of food. A second formal notice was issued on 17 December for the provision of medical care for the same seamen. The two Ukrainian seafarers were repatriated on 29 December and two others left the ship at the end of December. The spanish captain also left the ship in January.
Two seafarers of Venezuelan nationality filed a complaint with ITF on 12 February for non-payment of wages, which was relayed on 17 February. This complaint led the French maritime Authorities to give notice for the third time to the shipowner on 18 February 2026. The two seafarers left the ship on 5 March and were repatriated to Venezuela at the shipowner's expense, after receiving their salary arrears. Only one representative of the shipowner remains on board.
With regard to standard A2.5.2 of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), France considers that abandonment has never been established, each formal notice having been followed by effect. Furthermore, France is of the view that the provisions of the ILO/IMO guidelines on how to deal with cases of abandonment of seafarers have been fully implemented. In accordance with paragraph 28 of the guidelines, the case should be registered as resolved, since all seafarers who have expressed the wish to be repatriated have been resolved and all unpaid remuneration have been paid and duly received.
19 February 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
Belize flag was removed from the vessel.