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Crew of leaking ship abandoned and at danger in Mogadishu

11 crew members of the 'Haj Abdullah', who were trapped aboard the ship, were at extreme risk, with the vessel taking on water off Mogadishu. The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has implored the authorities to give the vessel an emergency access to the port. but so far to no avail. The ageing vessel suffered cracks under the waterline while underway with a cargo of sulphur from Al Hamrya, Dubai to Dar es Salaam. On Aug 13, 2021, the 'Haj Abdullah' called at Mogadishu for checks and to replenish supplies. But the port authorities did not allow the vessel into the port and insisted that it remained anchored off the coast where it remained stationary since. The crew has to pump out water day and night to keep it afloat. Food and water will run out in a frew days. The international community still considers the coast of the Somali Republic to be at high risk of piracy. The crew members were thus in an extremely perilous situation The owners were not responding to the ITF Inspectorate enquires, and although the ship's flag state, Sierra Leone, said it was investigating, it has taken no practical measures to improve the safety of the vessel or secure provisions or wages for the crew members. According to the Maritime Labour Convention, the international law on seafarers' rights, the crew members have been abandoned. Only the port State of Somalia can free them. They have now been unpaid for between four and six months. Many have gone past the end of their contracts. The ITF has been in touch with the vessel's insurer, the P&I club Thomas Miller, to activate the financial security clause in the ship's insurance. However, getting the seafarers home will be impossible without help from the Port of Mogadishu. The port state is required to facilitate this process. Report with photo: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/itf-11-crewmembers-abandoned-on-sinking-bulker-off-somalia

Medevac off Paphos

An Egyptian crew member of the "Helen H", aged 29, was medevaced by the Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) off the Paphos coast on Jan 13, 2014. The JRCC received an urgent call at 2:45 p.m. saying that one of the crew was injured and suffering severe bleeding on his arm. The master requested an immediate transfer to hospital. The JRCC dispatched a National Guard helicopter with an experienced nurse from the Paphos General on board. Despite adverse weather conditions, the hoist was executed successfully and the sailor was transferred to the Paphos General emergency room at 4:05 p.m. His condition was described as stable.