ITF Accuses Dubai-based Shipping Firm Of Worst Case Of Seafarer Abandonment Ever Seen

In a shocking revelation in the global maritime industry, Dubai-based ship management company Middle East Marine LLC has come under intense scrutiny for what the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has described as the worst case of serial seafarer abandonment ever seen.

Over 100 seafarers have allegedly been subjected to systematic abuse and neglect, sparking urgent calls for action from international authorities.

Since November 2022, the International Transport Workers’ Federation has reported 17 abandonments spanning 18 vessels in Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.

Seafarers from India, Indonesia, and Myanmar have faced harsh conditions such as impure drinking water, a shortage of food, the withholding of passports and medication, the refusal of ill crew medical visits, and unpaid salaries, all of which constitute serious human and labor rights violations.

It’s difficult to understand how a firm registered in the UAE can act like this with impunity.

“Middle East Marine is a stain on the global maritime industry,” said Steve Trowsdale, ITF’s Inspectorate Coordinator, who expressed deep worry for the well-being of impacted crew members.

Seafarers’ tragic experiences depict a bleak picture of exploitation and despair.

One Indonesian seafarer claimed his salary had been withheld for over three months, but certain crew members have been unpaid for up to seven months.

The corporation did not provide meals or fresh water; seafarers usually were fishing for survival.

Under international law, as established in the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006, seafarers must be paid at least once a month.

Abandonment is declared if wages are unpaid for two months or more or if vital necessities such as food, water, and fuel are not provided.

Despite numerous violations, the response from competent authorities, particularly the Palau maritime authority, has been noticeably absent.

The ITF has urged the UAE government and Palau’s marine authorities to intervene immediately and safeguard international maritime and human rights laws.

However, their protests appear to have gone unheard, compounding the suffering of seafarers caught up in a nightmare journey.

It’s awful to see sailors exposed to such extreme exploitation, dangerous working conditions, and limited rights.

No salary, insufficient housing circumstances, a lack of legal rights, and limited freedom of movement – it’s like modern-day indentured slavery, said Sandra Bernal, the ITF’s Network Coordinator for the Asia Pacific Region.

Despite rising criticism, concerns remain about the responsibility of those involved, specifically Middle East Marine and Palau, which has refused to respond to charges of widespread abuse.

Reference: ITF

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