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Watermark St. George - Panama - 12 December 2024 -  resolved 

Left

Watermark St. George
 resolved 
01173
Panama: flag image Panama
9139634
Container Ship
Willemstad, Curaçao
British Marine

Right

12 December 2024
17 December 2024
International Transport Workers' Federation
11
Philippines (7); Russian Federation (1); Ukraine (3)

Circumstances

Crew reported non-payment of wages of more than 2 months and requesting assistance with repatriation as they have expired employment contracts

Seafarers applied to insurer?: Yes
Insurance certificate dates: 23rd October 2024 to 23rd October 2025

Case details

12 December 2024: Flag State informed
Contacted Flag state, P&I club and port state control
17 December 2024: Repatriation pending

3 February 2025: Repatriated
Crew members were repatriated 3rd February 2025 from Curacao
17 December 2024: Payment Pending
Outstanding wages: US$78,076

3 February 2025: Paid
The salaries have been paid

Case details

17 December 2024: International Transport Workers' Federation
According to the information the Filipino crew are receiving wages, however the other 2 nationalities have not received their wages for the last two months.

9 January 2025: Curaçao
(From the Maritime Authority of Curaçao)

The Maritime Authority of Curaçao pays its compliments to the Panama Maritime Authority.
We have been informed of this abandonment case in the Port of Willemstad and with attached letter I formally assume the role of port STATE on the outstanding MLC issues with the crew on-board the vessel. My intention is to start-up formal communication with flag on the welfare and speedy repatriation of the crew and its safe and responsible replacement by a new crew here in Curaçao. MAC intermediates and communicates with the relevant port state entities on this matter.

In terms of port regulations and port/vessel safety issues, the Harbour Master in Curaçao remains the responsible authority. The letter is self-explanatory and I request that you confirm receipt and facilitate the requested communication between flag and port state, or direct me to the assigned person to contact on this matter. Please advice.

10 January 2025: Other
(From the Interorient Shipmanagement)

For several weeks now, we have been lobbying the various stakeholders to find a way to repatriate the crew, without success, so we are hopeful that we will now see an urgent resolve with your intervention.
It goes without say that our seafarers are desperate to be reunited with their families. Five members of the crew have been onboard since November 2023 (approaching 14mths), every other man onboard is now at least two months over their contracted period, but we have been blocked at every opportunity to repatriate them, despite the facts around this vessel and the Owners abandonment being well known.
In order that we can start to share (at last) some good news with the crew, we ask you for the timeline to replace them with local crew, and in order we can urgently secure repatriation flights home for all.
Eagerly awaiting your reply and we thank you again for your intervention.

14 January 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
(From ITF London)

I am writing to you this mail regarding the situation on board the Watermark St. George and previous correspondence.
As in previous mails, about the repatriation (after replacement) of the crew members, no actual action has been taken until today, only mails are sent back and forth, but crew is still on board.
The vessel has been flagged as abandoned as the owner is no longer responding and not paying salaries. The latter has since been followed up by the P&I club.
As stated in previous emails, there are several crew members who have been on since November 2023 and they, like the other crew members, want to be repatriated. According to MLC 2006 article A2.5.2, seafarers should not be on board for more than 12 months.
We cannot keep crew members on board indefinitely, this is an inhumane situation, for both the crew and their families. Also, the health of the crew also worries me.
Therefore, I would like all parties involved to come up with a suitable solution soon, preferably before the end of this week. Keeping the safety of the crew, ship, and port in mind.
The solution could be to put local crew (watchmen) on board waiting for the upcoming court case, so that the current crew can be repatriated.
To reach a solution quickly, a joint team meeting would be required, to avoid long e-mail correspondences.

15 January 2025: Curaçao
(From the Maritime Authority of Curacao)

We urge a crew change to take place a.s.a.p. So far no reaction from flag. Will send reminder again.
Please be advised lay-up with local crew or watchmen is not an option as harbour master indicated. So we need to work under the assumption that an international crew change is required to repatriate existing crew. This can not be done without flag assistance.

3 February 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
The salaries have been paid and are now waiting for repatriation. This case is "disputed" currently.

17 February 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
Crew members were repatriated 3rd February 2025 from Curacao.
This case has been resolved.