Lancelot V
22 seafarers abandoned on the Lancelot V (IMO 9128439, flag Panama) in Auckland, New Zealand, 15 May 2015. ILO case 227, status: Resolved.
- Status
- Resolved
- Abandonment ID
- 227
- IMO Number
- 9128439
- Flag
- Panama
- Port of Abandonment
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Abandonment Date
- 15 May 2015
- Notification Date
- 9 June 2015
- Seafarers
- 22
- Reporting Org.
- International Transport Workers' Federation
Circumstances
No wage has been paid since March. Some crew on board are in excess of 1 year.
Updates
25 November 2016: International Transport Workers' Federation
Case resolved
3 August 2015: International Transport Workers' Federation
ITF inspector in New Zealand informed that;
1. All crew have been paid (or are in the process of being paid) wages for the period from the date of arrest. Those crew who were on rates below ITF rates are being paid at ITF rates. For some of them, this has meant a significant increase.
2. Those crew who wished to be repatriated left New Zealand on Friday and will now be back with their families.
3. I have been back in court this afternoon, trying to get a court order for the payment of pre-arrest wage arrears. This was the second hearing on that issue. The argument has been concluded and the judge has indicated that we will have a judgment on Monday next week. My argument was essentially that the crew should be paid their arrears now, rather than waiting for the ship to be sold, on humanitarian grounds. If the judgment goes in favour of that (and the indications from the judge were certainly promising), this will be an important decision as none of the parties could find any authority on the point. It will thus be a very strong precedent for the future and will be of value in all other common law countries.
3 July 2015: Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
Maritime New Zealand informed that;
1. The ship remains currently in New Zealand at Port of Tauranga.
2. The ship has been issued a detention notice as Classification Society survey certification has expired.
3. ITF are continuing investigation in respect of crew wages."
23 June 2015: International Transport Workers' Federation
ITF inspector in New Zealand informed that;
"the wages are now up to date, some crew have been repatriated and more will be from the vessels next port of Singapore. There was a problem with stores but the agent tells me that the money has now come through from the company. So the vessel will store up this morning and is scheduled to depart at 1700 today."
19 June 2015: New Zealand
Maritime New Zealand, agency of port State, informed that;
"Officers of Maritime New Zealand attended "LANCELOT V" (IMO Number 9128439) on 18/6/15 and spoke at length with the Master. They report the following:
1. March, April Wage allotments have been paid, May allotments are in process for payment.
2. The Master is awaiting cash from the company to arrive in order for him to store the vessel with provisions.
Not related to the report of abandonment the Maritime Officers also reported:
1. The last remaining deck crane able to operate failed last night and has been put out of service with approx. 100 MT of cargo remaining in the hold.
2. The vessel is due to complete discharge of cargo (via shore side mobile crane) approx. 20th June and has orders to sail from its current port (Tauranga, New Zealand) for Singapore to a shipyard for repairs.
3. The Class Society has issued interim certificates to allow the vessel to operate until repairs are made. This expires 2nd July.
4. MNZ advised the Master that if he left NZ 20th June by the time he arrives in SGP the extension would have expired and the vessel would be out of class.
Additionally please note that at present New Zealand is not party to MLC, and thus options for direct intervention on the issue reported by ITF are limited."