abandonment

Despite impunity from shipowners and a lack of cooperation from Iranian and Syrian flag states, the ITF and our affiliates have secured the repatriation home of seafarers in two separate cases of abandonment in the Arab World and Iran.

After being left adrift, abandoned off the Tunisian coast without wages, food and fuel, 12 seafarers on board the Qaaswa have been sent home after 13 months marooned off the Port of Sfax.

After more than 11 months at anchor in Sfax, Tunisia, the remaining 10 seafarers (6 Egyptian, 2 Indian and 2 Bangladeshi) on board the vessel MV Qaaswa finally departed for home on 30th April 2018, after they had been systematically abandoned by the vessel owner Alco Shipping Services, a company based in the United Arab Emirates.

On 24 April 2018, during the 105th session of Legal Committee at main hall of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), an International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) delegation delivered a presentation regarding ongoing cases and outcomes of the latest data analysis of the ILO/IMO database on reported incidents of abandonment of seafarers.

16 crew members of the container ship Avonmoor have been repatriated home to the Ukraine, thanks to the efforts of International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Inspectors, and ITF affiliate, Moroccan Workers' Union (UMT).

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) is pleased to announce that the eleven crew of the Panamanian flagged 'Agean Princess' have finally been able to return home to India and Myanmar, after a dispute between their ships operator and owner saw them held in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, for 17 months. However, the crew are still owed hundreds of thousands of dollars of unpaid wages.

ITF statement in response to the circular issued by the UAE Federal Transport Authority – Land And Maritime, requiring all UAE flagged ships trading internationally and all ships operating in UAE waters to have a contract of insurance to protect seafarers.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Federal Transport Authority (FTA) and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) have agreed to work together to tackle abandonment cases in UAE waters.

The ITF (International Transport Workers is giving a warm welcome to the major new Maritime Labour Convention provisions on crew abandonment that come into force tomorrow.

A campaign of support by the ITF has won back wages due to the Indian crew of two ships left unpaid and effectively abandoned by their owners in British ports.