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Caribbean Energy - Mongolia - 1 November 2024 -  disputed 

Left

Caribbean Energy
 disputed 
01179
Mongolia: flag image Mongolia
9040089
Chemical/Products Tanker
Kingston Bay, Jamaica
Unknown

Right

1 November 2024
3 January 2025
International Transport Workers' Federation
9
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (9)

Circumstances

Outstanding wages of 4 months

Seafarers applied to insurer?: No
Insurance certificate dates: N/A

Case details

29 December 2024: Flag State informed
Contacted the owners, flag state, local PSC and Managers
4 March 2025: Vessel arrested by the Port State
(From the Maritime Authority of Jamaica)
The vessel was arrested under the instructions of the crew on March 4, 2025, to recover wages in the sum of USD240,700.00.
The claim will be heard by the Supreme Court of Jamaica on March 19, 2025.
3 January 2025: Repatriation pending

19 January 2025: Other
Three crew members were repatriated and nine crew members on board still pending.
28 January 2025: Repatriated
On January 21, 2025, five (5) seafarers were repatriated with the remaining four (4) being repatriated on January 28, 2025.
3 January 2025: Payment Pending
Outstanding wages amount: TBC

19 January 2025: Payment Pending
Seafarer reported his payment along to two other crew members repatriated with him. He did not know the amount paid to them. Payment pending of 13 crew ( 9 on board + 4 at home= $242,016.00)

Case details

3 January 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
According to crew members, owners informed they are under economical difficulties and will wait the outcome of political situation in Venezuela to resume commercial trade. Original crew were 14. Five crew members were already repatriated.

7 January 2025: International Maritime Organisation
The new vessel, ‘CARIBBEAN ENERGY’ with IMO Number 9040089 is Flag: UNKNOWN, before 1 June 2023: Mongolia according to IMO GISIS.

8 January 2025: Jamaica
(From the Maritime Authority of Jamaica)

Thank you for your email regarding the abandonment case of the Chemical/Products Tanker, CARIBBEAN ENERGY, IMO Number 9040089, which is currently anchored in Jamaica.
We were previously advised of this matter and have consequently conducted a Port State Control Inspection, which resulted in the detention of the vessel. All the relevant parties have been notified.
We will provide further comments on the matter.

17 January 2025: Jamaica
(From the Maritime Authority of Jamaica)

Further to your email dated January 8, 2025, regarding MT CARIBBEAN ENERGY, please see below:
On December 30, 2024, an email was received from the International Transport Federation (ITF) Inspector in Panama, advising of the abandonment of a nine-member crew onboard the MT CARIBBEAN ENERGY and anchored in Kingston, Jamaica.
The nine (9) crew members are of Venezuelan nationality and are owed up to four (4) months of wages. Their employment agreements have all expired. The vessel had onboard an expired provisional Certificate of Registry from Mongolia.
Acting in accordance with international law, Port State Control (PSC) Inspectors from the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) boarded the vessel on January 3, 2025, where she was detained for MLC, LoadLine and SOLAS violations.
On January 6, 2025, the Captain of the vessel contacted the Registrar of Seafarers (RoS) seeking intervention in relation to the payment of their wages, and for repatriation to their home country. Since then, communication has been ongoing with the owner, representatives of the owner, and the local agent. Daily communication between the Captain and the RoS have allowed for the constant monitoring of the wellness of the crew, adequacy of provision onboard and fuel for the operation of the vessel.
The owner has promised to resolve the issues relating to wages, repatriation and to tow the vessel for repairs to a drydock in Dominican Republic by January 25, 2025. The owner was asked to provide evidence of payment of wages, repatriation and a plan for the repairs of the vessel.
Airline tickets were bought by the owner for four (4) of the crew to be repatriated on January 14, 2025, based on the crew’s request to leave. They were unable to depart Jamaica, however, as the fees of USD400 per crew for immigration compliance were not paid on time to facilitate the necessary processing, which takes 3 days. The four crew members were brought back to the vessel by the local agent.
On January 14, 2025, the MAJ Inspectors again visited the vessel to conduct tank soundings and to generally check on the crew.
A letter dated January 14, 2025, from the Director of Safety was dispatched to the owner on the matter at hand. We are awaiting a formal response.
On January 15, 2025, the owner advised via voice note to the RoS that he will be settling the wages for the crew by January 16, 2025, also to repatriate them and will provide the MAJ with a towage plan for delivery of the vessel for repairs by January 23, 2025.
On January 16, 2025, RoS was advised by the captain that he received five (5) airline tickets for crew departure on January 21, 2025. Additionally, evidence of refuelling of the vessel on January 16, 2025, was provided to the RoS.
On January 17, 2025, the local agent advised that the immigration fee was paid for the nine (9) crew members onboard the vessel.
We continue to dialogue with the owner and his representatives for a speedy resolution of the matter.

19 January 2025: International Transport Workers' Federation
Three crew members were repatriated and nine crew members on board still pending. Seafarer reported his payment along to two other crew members repatriated with him. He did not know the amount paid to them. Payment pending of 13 crew ( 9 on board + 4 at home= $242,016.00).

This case has been classified as "disputed."

4 March 2025: Jamaica
(From the Maritime Authority of Jamaica)
This serves as an update from the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) regarding the abandoned seafarers of the M/T CARIBBEAN ENERGY.

On January 20, 2025, three (3) seafarers joined the vessel to facilitate repatriation of the nine remaining seafarers.
On January 21, 2025, five (5) seafarers were repatriated with the remaining four (4) being repatriated on January 28, 2025. The seafarers had expressed an interest in being repatriated and awaiting their outstanding wages in their home country.

The vessel was arrested under the instructions of the crew on March 4, 2025, to recover wages in the sum of USD240,700.00.
The claim will be heard by the Supreme Court of Jamaica on March 19, 2025.