Press Release
26 May 2019
London, UK. During the Ramadan period and prior to Eid, a time for giving, sharing and family time, there remain some Indian seafarers who continue to live in desperate conditions abandoned at sea.
The ongoing issue of abandoned Indian seafarers off the UAE coast due to the continued failure by Marine Service LLC to pay their wages, some for over 28 months, must now be brought to a swift end.
Human Rights at Sea is reliably informed that the owner, Rashed Abdulla Al Falasi, keeps negotiating the remaining and outstanding salaries, despite the fact that the Dubai-based law firm, Fitche & Co has arrested two of his vessels. He has offered the crew the payment of only 50% of their dues and they were in such a desperate situation that the majority accepted this offer without further negotiation.
The latest testimony from two remaining crew of the vessel MV Tamim Aldar is reproduced below in the seafarer’s own words.
“Ramadan karim mubarak to everyone.
My vessel M.V. Tamim Aldar ,
We 2 only remain onboard who complaint regarding abandonment my self vikash mishra seo and chief engineer arsu lobo indian nationality.
We do not bunker and provision and spare parts & drinking Water. vessels is extremely dangerous situation.Not under command ,main engine ,main generator is not operational vessel is fully loaded least to stbd side {3.5 degree} only emergency generator can be start for 20 minutes.
Port side free board is 2.5 meter but stbd side free board is 1 meter.
As I informed before if any how flooding will take place in engine room or ballast tank we will not be able to pump out.
And some unpleasant situation will occur .
Which could be dangerous for ship as well as for our life too.
Kindly help us and bound company to give us our remaining pending salary and signoff . We are mentality and physically sick & weaker {31 month running onboard}.
My Chief engineer is 49 year old he have health issues.
Please do all the needful to send us home as soon as possible.
We will be thankful to you. Please find the attachment of our life in tamim aldar our life is now in your hand.
Waiting for your kind reply.
Kind regards
M.v tamim aldar
Vikash Mishra”
Human Rights at Sea has consistently stated that such poor management behaviours by maritime companies and owners towards their employees is entirely unacceptable in today’s society in a multi-billion $ industry.
Since late 2018, when the organisation first became aware of the terrible circumstances of the crews off the UAE coast, alongside other welfare organisations and national authorities, it has consistently advocated and campaigned for justice for these men and their families through case studies and personal testimonies.
It is now time for the UAE government not just to arrest the company’s vessels, but deny the liberty and commercial freedom of the Eliteway Marine owners and Board members who continue to fail to pay all wages owed, without exception.
#endabandonment
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