Fatma Eylul
12 seafarers abandoned on the Fatma Eylul (IMO 9297917, flag Belize) in Ambarli, Türkiye, 1 February 2024. ILO case 958, status: Inactive.
- Status
- Inactive
- Abandonment ID
- 958
- IMO Number
- 9297917
- Flag
- Belize
- Port of Abandonment
- Ambarli, Türkiye
- Abandonment Date
- 1 February 2024
- Notification Date
- 16 April 2024
- Seafarers
- 12
- Reporting Org.
- International Transport Workers' Federation
Circumstances
Crew joined the vessel in December 2023 and have received no wages since. The crew have no contracts of employment, having been told that they would be given to them when they reached the vessel. Lack of provisions.
Updates
8 October 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
This case has been marked as "inactive".
1 September 2025: Other
(From the crew)
We, the undersigned 12 crew members of the vessel MV Fatma Eylul (IMO 9297917), were repatriated on 3rd May 2024 from Istanbul, Turkey, after serving on board under extremely difficult circumstances.
It has now been over a year, yet our four (4) months’ wages remain unpaid. Despite repeated requests and follow-ups, we have not received any clear updates regarding the progress of the case. Our last communication with the lawyer confirmed that the matter is in court, but since then there has been complete silence.
Currently, the vessel’s AIS data is off, and we are unable to track whether it is still at Ambarlı Port or elsewhere. This further adds to our uncertainty and suffering.
Meanwhile, our situation has become unbearable:
Our families are in severe financial distress. Parents and dependents are in hospitals without adequate medical care. Children’s education loans and interests are piling up. Many of us are struggling even for daily food.
Sir/Madam, we humbly and urgently request you:
1. To take immediate action to release our long-pending wages.
2. If necessary, scrap/sell the vessel and settle crew dues as per maritime law.
3. Ensure that at least a part of our wages is released immediately, as our survival is at stake.
We joined this vessel with trust in the system that protects seafarers. Today, we feel abandoned and helpless. We request your urgent intervention in the spirit of humanity and justice for seafarers, who sacrifice their lives at sea for global trade.
Please, we appeal once again with folded hands — help us, help our families.
28 May 2024: Other
Dear IMO Representative,
I hope this letter finds you well. We are writing to bring to your attention a pressing matter regarding the crew of the M.V. Fatma Eylul, currently docked at Ambarli Port, Istanbul, Turkey.
We, the undersigned, represent the 12 crew members of the aforementioned vessel who have recently been repatriated by the company's representative lawyer. While we are grateful for the assistance provided in arranging our repatriation, we regret to inform you that we have not received our wages for the months of January, February, March, and April.
Despite assurances from the company, we have yet to receive any payment for the aforementioned months. The only assistance provided thus far has been the provision of flight tickets and visas to facilitate our return home.
In light of this situation, we kindly request that you update the details of this abandonment on your website to ensure that it is documented appropriately. Furthermore, we would like to inform you that we are actively in touch with the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) to deposit our power of attorney and seek further assistance in resolving this matter.
We urge the ILO to take prompt action to address this issue and ensure that our rights as seafarers are upheld. Your intervention in this matter would be greatly appreciated, as it is imperative for us to receive our unpaid wages without further delay.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your prompt response and assistance in resolving this situation.
Sincerely,
Fatma Eylul
All crew
29 April 2024: Belize
It is understood that the vessel was sold in auction, and we are working with the new owners in order to solve this matter as soon as possible. As soon as we receive more information on the way forward, we will revert to you.
11 April 2024: Belize
Please be informed that we will communicate with the new master as it seems that there are some changes because the companies quoted by him (RPSL NAMS Ship Management and RAS Ship Management) are not recognized by our Administration as either the shipowner or operator, but we will investigate further.
In addition, from the e-mail, it is confirmed that a change of crew was performed in December 2023 and now all crew members onboard are Indian (12 in total).
Last, we had made an attempt to contact with the Harbour Master, but it seems that there are some kind of holidays in Turkey, so an up to date information will be provided on Monday when they return to their offices.
We will provide you with more details in due course as soon as they are available.
11 April 2024: Other
Govt. of Belize to ITF
Thanks for your update on this matter and I have the same feeling about the sending crew to an abandoned ship if indeed they do not have contracts. I am checking with the new Master as well as the relationship with both mentioned companies that are not the one declared "Sea Lion Shipping" and see if these two companies will indeed take the responsibilities of the ship as a new buyers which it seems that it is their intention, but nothing official.
I will keep you posted on any developments on this matter and I hope we can reach an end soon.
11 April 2024: International Transport Workers' Federation
We are organising provisions for the crew, but this cannot happen until Monday, after the Eid holiday. Also, the crew have informed us that they have no contracts of employment, as it seems the agents told them they would receive them when they arrived at the vessel.
This situation with the non-issue of contracts raises the question about agents seemingly knowing that they are sending crew to an abandoned vessel.
The owners of the vessel (Sea Lion Shipping) are also those associated with the MED SEA vessels that were abandoned in various parts of the world.
9 April 2024: International Transport Workers' Federation
It appears that one of our affiliates in Turkiye has been assisting with the provisioning of the vessel, but have not taken up the wider issues on board.
I will now contact the Master and take up the case as it is clearly a different abandonment case sine the one we reported in November 2023. As soon as I have further details I will submit a report.