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GP B1[resolved]

IMO9184055


Abandonment ID: 00515
Ship name:GP B1[resolved]
Flag:Panama
7-digit IMO no.:9184055
Port of abandonment:Khor Fakkan, UAE
Abandonment date:7 September 2020
Notification date:27 January 2021
Reporting Member Govt. or Org.:ITF
No. of Seafarers:7
Nationalities:Indonesia(3); Eritrea(1); India(1); Myanmar(1); Pakistan(1)
Circumstances:P&I: The Swedish Club

Bunkering Tanker

Owed wages and repatriation. Crew have been on board between 3 and 14 months.
Ship is under legal arrest by Bank of Fujairah.
Medical assistance requested.
Actions taken:4 October 2020: Flag State informed

Other
Owners/managers, flag state and Federal Transport Authority have been contacted.
Repatriation status:Repatriation pending
All crew are awaiting repatriation.

Repatriated
5 of them are being repatriated on 25/03/2021 and the other 2 are visiting families and will leave on 30/03/2021 and 02/04/2021.
Payment status:Payment Pending
3 months outstanding wages.

Paid
Total wages paid to the 7 crew is US$69,412.
Comments and Observations:ITF (27 January 2021)
14 crew disembarked during first 3 weeks of October 2020.

Govt. of Panama (12 February 2021)
From Maritime LAbour Affairs Department
Please be advice that before your formal notification of the inclusion of the vessel GP B1 IMO 9184055 onto the Abandonment Database, this Administration has proceeded according to the regular procedure, looking to obtain a promptly clarification and solution to the situation denounced.
We have contacted the Registered Owner, Operator and/or Local Resident Agents, regarding the labour complaint filed by captain Asfaha Tekeste.
Therefore, we deem important to indicate that the P&I Club (Swedish club) through email dated December 22, 2020, has inform us that they sent a person from their local correspondent and UAE lawyers to meet the needs of the twenty one (21) crewmembers onboard and coordinate their repatriation.
In addition to this, according to the P&I report, on October 2020 they successfully repatriated 14 crewmembers; remaining onboard seven seafarers (Eritrea -1; Indonesia -3; India -1; Myanmar -1; Pakistán -1). Seemingly, local authority does not allow vessel to have crew less than minimum safety requirement. In view of this, we are in a dialogue with the local and port authority to allow the disembark of the remaining crew

Other (16 February 2021)
From IGP&I
I am now in a position to provide an update on the vessel GP B1 which was entered with the Swedish Club.
Despite the efforts of the Swedish Club, the Club has been restricted from effecting repatriation due to the requirements of a replacement crew. The Club has taken steps to provide the crew with provisions and fresh water and are in regular contact with the crew, both to update them on repatriation status and to monitor their wellbeing. Arrangements are also currently being made for the settlement of 4 months wages for crew and repatriation costs.
Discussions are ongoing between the Club and Khor Fakkan authorities. We do recognise that the UAE is not a party to the Maritime Labour Convention but the authorities have introduced measures which will not allow crew to be repatriated. We would appreciate if the Panamanian administration could provide details of any discussions they may have had with UAE which would facilitate the successful repatriation of the crew.

Govt. of United Arab Emirates (17 February 2021)
From Federal Maritime Authority
Please note while UAE is not party to the MLC, the seafarers insurance coverage as MLC 2014 amendment requirements is a compulsory to all national and foreign flag ships calling UAE waters and ports since 2018 as the attached circulars.
Leaving a ghost ship with no seafarers onboard is a concern to all authorities, nevertheless, and based on humanitarian basis the UAE authorities towed recently GP B2 to the port and repatriated all seafarers.
For GP B1 you need to liaise with the ship flag and arrange to meet the Port management for their assistance as they have done for GP B2, there is nothing called measures introduced to prevent crew from being repatriated, but the ports are no intended to be a parking for abandoned ships occupying its commercial jetties and affecting their day to day operations, however assistance is always provided on humanitarian basis when needed which has the priorities to us over the commercial interests.

ITF (5 March 2021)
7 crew are awaiting repatriation and their owed wages. Crew are unpaid since November 2020 and the total outstanding wages until February 2021 is USD 67,072
The P&I club is assisting with the case.

ITF (24 March 2021)
All crew were paid 4 months wages and disembarked the vessel on 23/03/2021. The 4 months wages were paid the P&I club. 5 of them are being repatriated on 25/03/2021 and the other 2 are visiting families and will leave on 30/03/2021 and 02/04/2021.
Total wages paid to the 7 crew is US$69,412
The ship now has no-one on board and the UAE authorities have accepted this. Resolved.

 
Entered: Wednesday - 24 March 2021 at 14:45:18
Last updated: Wednesday - 24 March 2021 at 14:48:12
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