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GMTS TRACKER 01

IMO9007142


Abandonment ID: 00726
Ship name:GMTS TRACKER 01
Flag:Liberia
7-digit IMO no.:9007142
Port of abandonment:Durban, South Africa
Abandonment date:28 December 2022
Notification date:23 February 2023
Reporting Member Govt. or Org.:Govt. of Liberia
No. of Seafarers:16
Nationalities:Georgia(9); Nigeria(2); Türkiye(4); Ukraine(1)
Circumstances:P&I : Maritime Mutual Insurance Association (NZ) Limited

Type : Offshore Tug/Supply Vessel

The crew has not been paid since December 2022. The vessel has been waiting at Durban anchorage since December 6, 2022, for the owner's decision to supply new towing wire and insurance. The vessel berthed on 2/22/2023 for a supply of fresh water and provision.
Actions taken:23 February 2023: Flag State informed
February 23, 2023: The Liberian Administration requested both the Shipowner and P&I club for their action to resolve the abandonment case.
February 23, 2023: The Shipowner informed the Administration that the shipowner(manager) has not received crew wages from the owner for the past five (5) months and has run out of funds to continue to pay the crew wages.
Payment status:23 February 2023: Payment Pending
$ 248.630,66
Comments and Observations:Govt. of Georgia (4 April 2023)
On behalf of Maritime Administration of Georgia, let me draw your attention to the abandonment case of M/V GMTS Tracker 01, IMO N9007142, Flying Liberian Flag as reported bellow.

As you already are aware, there are 9 Georgian seafarers together with other nationals on-board the vessel:

From February 25, 2023 the vessel is berthed in Port Durban, South Africa and the Maritime Administration of Georgia together with Diplomatic Mission of Georgia in South Africa are trying hard to assist the seafarers to promote their welfare, to ensure the protection of their labor rights and facilitate their safe repatriation.

According to information available to us, the ship owner “Propetrol Limited” failed to fulfil the obligations in accordance with MLC and the working contracts of the seafarers, and to ensure their wages for the last 5 months. After declaring that the duty holder is unable to cover the costs of wages and repatriation of the seafarers, the process of selling the ship was initiated. The ship owner asked for the deadline till the March 31, 2023 to finalize the selling process and to compensate financial duties. But as you might already be aware, the finalization of the process seems to be the huge challenge, because the Buyers have insisted on having a valid and subsisting P & I cover for the vessel before making the payment. The Club on its own is requesting for evidence of payment of the crew outstanding wages as a condition precedent for revalidation of the P&I.

The stocks of drinking water, food and fuel is already out on- board, also according the incident reports from the vessel, the crew is the target of attacks by unknown persons with knives. It is impossible for seafarers to stay on-board the vessel and seafarers are asking for help from all the relevant parties to plan their repatriation process but with issuing their wages.

Maritime Administration of Georgia is aware of support already given, however payment of wages and subsequent repatriation has now become imminent necessity.

If the Insurers for unknown reasons are delaying the process, we will kindly ask to everyone concerned to raise the similar concerns to them.

Taking into consideration all above mentioned, we kindly ask from all relevant interested parties for your active involvement to settle the case in the shortest reasonable time considering the concerns of Georgian Seafarers.


 
Last updated: Monday - 6 November 2023 at 14:06:00^ top


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