MV ONDA

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Latest news

Crew abandoned in Douala

Four seafarers have been abandoned without pay aboard the 'Onda' in Douala for one year. ITF representatives boarded the vessel and confirmed breaches of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). The ITF has had to step in and provide emergency provisions to the crew twice. Apart from the poor conditions onboard, four of the seven crew members allege their signatures on wage receipt documents have been forged and have also denounced the chief officer for abusive behaviour. The crew called on the ITF for help in September 2020, but all correspondence with the shipowner, Amin Shipping, has proved futile over the last four months, the union noted. The ship owner has written that he was unable to transfer money from Lebanon due to economic crisis and Covid-19. Latest ITF information says the owner has just paid some $1600 in cash to the four seafarers and are still owed wages. In addition, the owner claims there are no seafarers onboard, only watchmen who have no certification or seamen?s books, although the ITF have verified the four crew are, in fact, qualified seafarers. In correspondence with the shipowner, the register of Togo demanded proof of any payment of crew wages and provisions. They called to account the owners over falsification of the ship?s insurance and classification, with the ITF reporting the crew abandonment to the International Labour Organisation.

Seized ship did not carry weapons

The "Kuki Boy" that was seized on Feb 28 by Greek authorities was not headed for Lebanon but for Africa and did not contain weapons but rather hunting rifles. Greek authorities have allowed the ship to continue its sailing. The vessel belongs to three Lebanese nationals who reside in north Lebanon, amon them Mohammed Amin and Kamal Kasher from Tripoli. During an interrogation, the two men revealed that the ship has been leased to a Turkish firm and that it was only carrying hunting rifles and related ammunition

Arms and ammunition found in cargo

Greek law enforcement team found arms and ammunition in six containers on board of the "Trader" after she docked in Souda upon Crete on Feb 28, 2016, having come from Mersin. The master could not present the certificates required for such cargo after the Greek authorities were alerted.