Jawhart Berlin
25 seafarers abandoned on the Jawhart Berlin (IMO 9163506, flag Panama) in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 1 June 2026. ILO case 1836, status: Unresolved.
- Status
- Unresolved
- Abandonment ID
- 1836
- IMO Number
- 9163506
- Flag
- Panama
- Port of Abandonment
- Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Abandonment Date
- 1 June 2026
- Notification Date
- 9 September 2026
- Seafarers
- 25
- Reporting Org.
- International Transport Workers' Federation
Circumstances
Outstanding wages of 2 months and vessel lacking provisions (food and drinking water)
Seafarers applied to insurer?: No
Insurance certificate dates: Unknown
Updates
5 October 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
(From the ITF Inspector)
We wish to bring to your immediate attention the critical and unresolved situation on board M.V. JAWHART BERLIN, which continues to place the welfare, safety, and rights of the seafarers at serious risk.
For approximately 14 days, the vessel has been facing a severe bunker shortage, and for more than one week it has remained in a blackout condition due to the lack of fuel. This situation has severely affected the crew's living and working conditions and poses a significant risk to the safe operation of the vessel.
Although a limited quantity of provisions was recently supplied, they are sufficient only for a few days. Furthermore, due to the blackout, the refrigeration system is not operational, making it impossible to properly preserve food. As a result, the crew continues to face serious hardship despite repeated assurances that bunker fuel would be supplied.
To date, the crew has received only repeated promises, while no practical or effective action has been taken to restore normal conditions on board. The time has now come for concrete action rather than further assurances.
We also wish to highlight that the wages for August and September 2026 remain outstanding. The continued delay in payment is unacceptable and causes unnecessary financial and mental distress to the seafarers and their families. We respectfully seek clarification as to why this process remains incomplete despite the passage of considerable time.
We therefore urgently request all the above-mentioned authorities to intervene without further delay and ensure that:
1. Immediate bunker fuel is supplied to restore power and essential services on board.
2. Adequate provisions are maintained under proper storage conditions.
3. All outstanding wages for August and September 2026 are paid immediately.
4. The rights, welfare, health, and dignity of the seafarers are fully protected in accordance with the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) and other applicable international maritime regulations and this vessel is listed to Seafarer's Abandonment list of ILO-IMO.
We sincerely hope that this matter will now be addressed through immediate and positive action, as the crew can no longer rely solely on assurances while continuing to endure such difficult conditions.
We look forward to your urgent intervention and prompt response.
4 October 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
(From the ITF Inspector)
We would like to send you a further reminder regarding the urgent bunker supply, which unfortunately remains unresolved despite repeated assurances.
The crew members are now facing an extremely difficult and distressing situation. This issue has been pending for a considerable period, and despite several promises that it would be resolved, no practical or effective action has been taken. As a result, the vessel remains in blackout condition, leaving the crew without the basic means to operate the vessel safely or maintain acceptable living conditions.
Every further delay places the safety, health, and welfare of the seafarers at greater risk. Seafarers should not be left to suffer due to circumstances entirely beyond their control. They deserve immediate assistance, not continued uncertainty.
We therefore urgently call upon the Company, Harbour Master, PSCO, IMO, ILO, and all other concerned authorities to intervene without further delay and ensure that bunker is supplied immediately so that this humanitarian situation can be resolved and the welfare and dignity of the crew are protected.
We sincerely hope that this matter will now receive the urgent attention it deserves and that concrete action will be taken without any further delay and find the attachment.
We look forward to your immediate response.
2 October 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
(From the ITF Inspector)
Thank you for your update. We have received confirmation from the crew that the provisions have now been supplied.
However, with reference to your previous email, you mentioned that "the vessel is presently at Al Hamriya Anchorage, Sharjah, where the availability of fuel suppliers is limited." Since this limitation was already known, it would have been advisable to arrange the bunker supply in advance to avoid the present emergency situation. This is only a constructive suggestion, intended to help protect the welfare and safety of the seafarers and to prevent similar situations in the future.
We trust that the bunker supply will be completed today. Kindly confirm once the bunkering has been successfully carried out.
In addition, we understand that the processing of the August 2026 wages has commenced. However, we would appreciate an update regarding the September 2026 wages, which also remain outstanding.
The seafarers continue to perform their duties professionally and without interruption. Timely payment of wages is essential for their families' welfare and financial well-being. When delayed wages are combined with shortages of bunker fuel and provisions, it places unnecessary hardship on the crew and falls short of the standards expected in the maritime industry.
As we all recognize, seafarers are key workers who ensure the uninterrupted movement of global trade and essential goods. Their welfare, dignity, and safety should always remain a priority.
We look forward to your prompt update regarding the bunker supply and the payment of the outstanding wages.
1 October 2026: Other
(From Sea Bright Ship Management & Operation L.L.C.)
As mentioned in our correspondence yesterday, we have been actively working to address the matters raised regarding M.V. JAWHART BERLIN.
We would like to confirm that food provisions have already been supplied to the vessel. Please find attached the delivery note as evidence of the completed supply.
With regard to bunker fuel, arrangements have been finalized and the bunker supply is scheduled to be delivered today. We will provide the relevant supporting documentation and evidence of delivery as soon as the operation has been completed.
Regarding the outstanding crew wages, the payment process has already been initiated. We expect the transactions to be completed shortly and will revert with payment confirmations once they are received from the bank.
We remain committed to ensuring the welfare of the crew and are taking all necessary steps to resolve the outstanding matters as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and understanding while these arrangements are being finalized.
We will continue to keep all concerned parties updated and will share the supporting evidence for the bunker delivery and salary payments at the earliest opportunity.
30 September 2026: Other
(From MSIG Specialty Marine NV)
We have brought the matters described below to the Owners' attention and have asked them to provide you with an urgent update directly within this email chain regarding the actions taken to address the concerns raised on board.
We hope that the situation on board will be resolved as soon as possible.
30 September 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
(From the ITF Inspector)
We wish to once again draw your immediate and urgent attention to the rapidly deteriorating emergency situation on board M.V. JAWHART BERLIN (IMO No. 9163506), Flag: Panama, presently lying at the anchorage of Hamriyah Port, Sharjah, UAE.
The DPA previously informed us that bunker fuel and provisions would be supplied on Monday. However, according to the latest information received directly from the crew, no bunker fuel or provisions have been delivered, nor has any update or confirmation been provided regarding when these essential supplies will arrive.
The situation has now become extremely critical. The vessel has completely exhausted its bunker fuel, forcing the crew to drain fuel from one of the lifeboats merely to keep the emergency generator running. This is an alarming indication of the desperate conditions on board. Once the remaining fuel is exhausted, the emergency generator will stop, leaving the vessel without electricity, communication, lighting, refrigeration, or any effective means of control. Such a situation poses an imminent threat to the lives and safety of the crew, the security of the vessel, and the protection of the marine environment.
It is deeply concerning that this vessel has already been listed in the ILO–IMO Joint Database of Abandoned Seafarers, and the circumstances have now escalated into a humanitarian and maritime emergency requiring immediate intervention.
We therefore urgently call upon the IMO, ILO, Panama Flag Administration, Harbour Master, Port State Control, DG Shipping of India, the P&I Club, and all other competent authorities to take immediate and coordinated action to prevent this crisis from worsening and to ensure the protection of the seafarers, who have been left in an unacceptable and unsafe condition.
We also strongly urge the DPA/Shipowner to arrange, without any further delay, the immediate supply of bunker fuel, sufficient food provisions, fresh water, and all other essential necessities, together with the payment of the outstanding wages for August and September 2026. The crew have fulfilled their duties with professionalism under extremely difficult circumstances and deserve to be treated with dignity, fairness, and humanity.
Please also note that four Indian seafarers on board were recruited through the RPSL company ZAX MARINE SERVICE PVT. LTD. (RPSL No. ***). We request the Shipping Master, Mumbai and DG Shipping of India to extend all necessary assistance and ensure the protection of these Indian seafarers.
Considering the gravity and urgency of this situation, we respectfully request your immediate intervention and a prompt confirmation of the actions being taken. Every hour of delay increases the risk to the crew's lives and wellbeing. Immediate action is essential to prevent a far more serious humanitarian, safety, and environmental incident.