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Alkistis
IMO8313336
| Abandonment ID: | 00104 |
| Ship name: | Alkistis |
| Flag: | Marshall Islands |
| 7-digit IMO no.: | 8313336 |
| Port of abandonment: | Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
| Abandonment date: | 25 August 2009 |
| Notification date: | 4 September 2009 |
| Reporting Member Govt. or Org.: | ITF |
| No. of Seafarers: | 25 |
| Nationalities: | Myanmar(5); Philippines(18); Ukraine(2) |
| Circumstances: | At anchorage on the coast of Ivory Coast, Abidjan, since May 2009. |
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| Actions taken: | 14 September 2009: Other
ITF - Attempted to contact shipowner and op/ managers ¿ no reply received. Also negotiations with Captain and representative of Bank.
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| Repatriation status: | 14 September 2009: Repatriation pending
Outstanding
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| Payment status: | 14 September 2009: Payment Pending
From May 2009, Total amount approx. US$220,000 on 01 September 2009
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| Comments and Observations: | Other (2 July 2009)
MI Flag Administration:
Subject vessel was detained by the Flag State on 2 July 2009. The Company's DOC was withdrawn, vessel's SMC/ISSC and Class as well at that time. The operators have since been non-responsive.
Other (7 September 2009)
MI Piraeus Managing Director, after not being able to make contact at the shipowner¿s office, stopped by their office to check what's going on...as was expected (since no phone calls had been previously answered), nobody was there. Another related Greek owner, ATLANTIC MARITIME, was contacted whereupon it was learned that the ship had been arrested by the Mortgagee and the case was being handled by Credit Europe Bank Netherlands NV. They provided the Administration with the contact person from the Bank, who was contacted.
A Mr. Murat told the Administration that someone else within the Bank was responsible for this case, but asked that he be sent an e-mail in order to forward to the contact person. This was done, but no response was received.
Other (8 September 2009)
MI legal counsel contacted ITF advising that the Marshall Islands Maritime Administration was recently made aware of the situation regarding the Alkistis and was currently looking into the matter.
Capt. D.J.F. Bruce, Permanent Representative to the IMO was informed along with the MI London Managing Director in case their assistance would become necessary. Attempts were made to seek out the manning agents and the ship agent in Abidjan. The Administration¿s first priority was to make sure that the crew had sufficient provisions.
The agents were determined to be GLOBAL MANUTENTION C.I. S.A. in Abidjan. An attempt was made to contact the agent without success.
Other (9 September 2009)
The crewing agent was determined to be Lizstar Enterprise CO. LTD in Myanmar for the Myanmar seafarers but was no help. No information was available with regard to the Philippine and Ukrainian crew members.
The ITF responded thanking the Administration for its quick replay. The Administration was advised that on 03-09-2009, the representative of the Bank, a Mr. Murat, visited the vessel and promised to make the payment of wages within 1-2 weeks. At present the status of Fresh Water was220t and provisions were delivered to the ship.
Other (10 September 2009)
Contact was again attempted with the Bank without success. It was then realized that the bank was avoiding the Administration. Continued attempts were made for a week without success.
Other (16 September 2009)
Notice was received from the IMO Secretariat of the situation requiring a response by 30 September. An MI Nautical Inspector was dispatched from Ghana to inspect the ship and assess the current situation while still trying to make contact with the Bank. The next step was to apply some legal pressure on the Bank with a little help from the ITF.
Other (22 September 2009)
Capt. Bruce discussed the issue with the ICFTU Rep at the IMO who in turn began to seek information from the local Abidjan ITF representative. London Managing Director began a dialogue with the ITF in London. The ITF confirmed the Bank had the vessel under arrest and that Mr. Murat was the local bank contact in Abidjan, further confirming that the bank was avoiding the Administration.
Other (29 September 2009)
23-09-09
Contact was finally achieved with the Bank, a Mr. Onur and the head of his legal team, Russel Welsh. The current financial arrangement with the owners had collapsed and the Bank was now the mortgagee in possession.
The vessel has been arrested by the cargo receivers for cargo damage (not so much), a shipyard and a supplier. One of the amounts is significant. The others are quite small. They are trying to negotiate a payout for the claims.
The crew will soon be paid off and repatriated, and the Bank is trying to engage a watchkeeping gang whilst at anchor. The Bank is worried the crew will cause damage to the ship and each other, and they want to maintain the vessel in a proper state.
29-09-09
The Administration is now awaiting the report of its Nautical Inspector and further progress on the part of the Bank toward payoff and repatriation of the crew. Although the pace is slow, the Administration is satisfied that the proper actions are taking place and that the situation of the crew will soon be resolved. Final resolution will be reported once accomplished.
Respectfully submitted,
Capt. Thomas F. Heinan
Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs
The Republic of the Marshall Islands
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