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BTMAX 1[resolved]

IMO7303994


Abandonment ID: 00520
Ship name:BTMAX 1[resolved]
Flag:Bolivia
7-digit IMO no.:7303994
Port of abandonment:Port of Spain, Trinidad
Abandonment date:1 February 2021
Notification date:17 February 2021
Reporting Member Govt. or Org.:ITF
No. of Seafarers:8
Nationalities:Honduras
Circumstances:P&I: Guardian General Insurance LTD, P&I Coverage
(ITF contact in Trinidad spoke to the insurer and verified there is no crew liability coverage, only hull and accident)

Platform Supply Vessel

Owner has not paid the crew onboard since November, 2020. Additional crew member abandoned in hospital in Trinidad and has not received pay since June 2020.
Actions taken:15 February 2021: Other
ITF affiliate attorney in Trinidad has scheduled phone meeting with the owner 15 Feb, 2021.

15 February 2021: Flag State informed
Repatriation status:Repatriation pending
One crew member is in Port of Spain General Hospital.

Repatriated
Payment status:Payment Pending
Crew onboard owed 2.5 months full wages, unknown total amount. Crew in hospital owed $9200 for unpaid during his time onboard the vessel plus any compensation for hospital stay.
Comments and Observations:ITF (17 February 2021)
One crew member hospitalized 2 October, 2020 and remaining there up to this time (15 Feb. 21) with no contact from the owner or payment of outstanding salary owed. Crew member was ready to be released by the hospital prior to 2021 but owner failed to take action to repatriate him. Owner further contacted crew member’s family on 12 February and informed them he would be on a flight the 13th of February but he remains in the hospital despite being ready for release and travel. Vessel is registered and insured as a private yacht despite being constructed and utilized as a cargo vessel.

ITF (2 July 2021)
Second Engineer accepted back pay settlement of $1500 from the vessel's owners without consultation of ITF or local attorney representatives.

$4,491.67 in leave pay obtained for Chief Engineer for service from November 2019-March 1, 2021

Master and Chief Engineer successfully repatriated from Trinidad to Roatan, Honduras. Arrived on 2nd March after departing Trinidad 1st March and spending 24 hours in Miami. Master required care of hired nurse in order to monitor his health during their layover.

Local law in Trinidad does not allow pursuit of seaman's claims for anything that occurred after departure from the vessel, in this case the Masters unreasonable detention in the hospital. Owner refuses to pay remaining money owed from his service onboard and this sum is not sufficient to justify arrest of the vessel without larger claim for hospital detention. Disputed.

ITF (13 December 2021)
Vessel arrested by ITF local counsel on 7 September, 2021. Trinidad court awarded judgement for due crew wages, ordered sale of vessel on 29 September. Appeal of above judgement filed by owners on 2 October, 2021. Court upheld initial judgement for crew wages and sale of the vessel to pay same on 11 November. Vessel awaiting final valuation and sale to pay crew wages due. The one pending repatriation was completed in March 2021.

ITF (6 April 2022)
All involved crew members have confirmed that they have been paid and repatriated.

 
Last updated: Wednesday - 6 April 2022 at 11:45:43^ top


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