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Grinch - - 13 February 2026 -  resolved 

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Grinch
 resolved 
01631
9288851
Crude Oil Tanker
Marseille, France
Unknown

Right

13 February 2026
19 February 2026
International Transport Workers' Federation
26
India (26)

Circumstances

Flag: Comoros FALSE

Crew asking to be repatriated due to expired contracts. Lack of provisions and medical attention is required by some crew members

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

Case details

19 February 2026: Other
Date flag state notified: N/A

Actions taken to resolve case:
Contacted the French Maritime authorities
19 February 2026: Repatriation pending

5 June 2026: Repatriated

19 February 2026: Other
Outstanding wages:
None

Comments and observations

5 June 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
Crew have been repatriated
Resolved


23 May 2026: Other
(From the shipping company)

With reference to the letter F. No. 23-ABAN/8/2026-CREW-DGS (Comp No. 38684) dated 27.04.2026 regarding the alleged abandonment of vessel “M.T. GRINCH”, IMO No. 9288851, Flag Comoros, at Marseille, France, we wish to submit the following clarification for your kind information and necessary records.

We respectfully state that the vessel was not abandoned at any point of time. The vessel was detained by the French Navy on 22nd January 2026 due to allegations concerning a false flag issue. Subsequently, all inspections and necessary formalities were carried out by the concerned authorities.

Thereafter, the vessel was officially released from Marseille, France on 18th February 2026 and proceeded to Port Said, Egypt, where she arrived on 26th February 2026.

Further, all six crew members who had raised complaints before ITF were duly signed off from the vessel at Port Said, Egypt on 28th February 2026 with full wages paid and confirmed repatriation arrangements to their respective hometowns.

The names of the crew members are as follows:
1. *** / 2. *** / 3. *** / 4. *** / 5. *** / 6. ***

We hereby confirm that the following supporting documents are attached with this mail for verification and record purposes:
1. Crew Sign Off Form-1 Reports
2. Electronic Salary Slips evidencing full wage payments
3. Air Tickets/Repatriation Details to respective hometowns
4. Supporting documents regarding vessel name change and flag change
5. Provision list supplied onboard during the relevant period

We further wish to inform that subsequent to the above events, the vessel’s name and flag have been changed. The present details are as follows:
Previous Name: M.T. GRINCH
IMO No.: 9288851
New Vessel Name: TRANSFORMER
New Flag: Russian Federation

The relevant supporting documents pertaining to the vessel’s name and flag change are enclosed herewith.

In view of the above facts and supporting evidence, we respectfully request your good office to kindly take the same on record and note that the vessel was not abandoned, and all crew members were properly signed off with full wages and repatriation arrangements completed and please remove the vessel name in ILO/IMO Abandoned and blacklist list.


4 April 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
We disagree that this case does not meet the test for abandonment.

At least four members of the crew had contracts which had expired on dates between early December 2025 and early January 2025.

On 11 February 2025, a clear request for repatriation in the form of a signed statement from 6 members of the crew was sent via ITF.

Another seafarer, whose contract expired on 12 January 2026, signed a statement dated 12 January 2026 requesting repatriation due to expiration of contract and a family emergency, and further requesting medical treatment. By 11 February 2026, he was still on board and had not received any medical treatment. The seafarer signed a further statement dated 11 February 2026 confirming his requests for repatriation and medical treatment had not been answered.

On 12 February 2026, six crew members provided a signed statement that they refused to sail with the vessel due to the failure of the owner to provide repatriation. Crew advised that they eventually chose to sail with a promise of repatriation from Port Said as they felt they had no choice.

Finally, we understand that supplies on the vessel were low, and that further supplies were only made due to the intervention of the French authorities.

In the view of ITF, there were clear requests for repatriation; contracts that, by the time the vessel sailed, were expired in excess of two months; and a failure to provide medical care for a crew member.

ITF therefore considers that the requirements of MLC Standard A2.5.2 para 2 (a) and (b) are met and that the case can be considered an abandonment.

We understand that the situations on such vessels can be difficult and we thank the France for the intervention on board which ensured supplies were provided and a repatriation plan put in place. However, we respectfully disagree that the case does not meet the requirements for reporting an abandonment to the database.


26 March 2026: Comoros
(From the National Agency of Maritime Affair)

Further to your below email concerning New abandonment case notification, kindly be advised that the ship has not been registered under Comoros flag. It is to be noted, the tanker GRINCH (IMO 9288851) was intercepted and detained by the French Navy in the Mediterranean Sea in January 2026.

Furthermore, the certificate claiming Comoros registry appears to be fraudulent and was not issued by our Administration.

Therefore, the Union of the Comoros does not have any jurisdiction or responsibility regarding this vessel or its crew.

Kindly update your records accordingly.

Should you require any additional clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.


26 March 2026: France
(From the Permanent representation of France to the International maritime organisation)

Please find hereafter the comments of France regarding the case of GRINCH (9288851).

Since May 2025, the vessel “GRINCH” has been flying the flag of the Union of the Comoros fraudulently and without their authorization.
As part of a police operation on the high seas on 22/01/2026, the vessel was diverted to the anchorage area of the port of Fos-sur-Mer and then seized by the French judicial authorities in order to conduct a flag investigation, in accordance with Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and Article 1521-5 of the Defence Code.
Despite the absence of effective jurisdiction on board by a flag State and the difficulties encountered in identifying the operators of the vessel, the competent French police and judicial authorities have ensured that the necessary maintenance and supply operations are carried out. The well-being of the seafarers on board remained a constant priority for the competent French authorities throughout the rerouting and judicial investigation of the vessel from 22/01/2026 to 16/02/2026. When the ship arrived, they found that the sailors had food, although in insufficient quantity for a prolonged stopover and the next voyage. They therefore ensured that the company had delivered on board more than three tons of provisions, including food, drinking water and medicines.
The competent French authorities have also facilitated contacts between seafarers and their representatives, including the ITF national coordinator in France, as well as the diplomatic representation of their country of residence. Although several seafarers had contracts that expired shortly before the diversion operation, no formal complaint or repatriation request was addressed to the competent authorities on board in contact with seafarers from 22/01 to 16/02/2026. While some concerns were expressed, no clear request for disembarkation was made.
Subsequently, the seamen concerned agreed, by joint declaration with the shipowner’s representatives, to disembark on the ship’s arrival in Port Said, taking into account the practical arrangements for their repatriation to their country of residence from Egypt. Following the conviction of the shipowner and the payment of a financial penalty of confiscation, the ship left French territorial waters on 17/02/2026.
In conclusion, the presence of the ship at anchor near the port of Fos sur mer does not fall within the conditions provided for in regulation 5.2.1 of the MLC 2006 Convention.
In the light of these factors, the French maritime administration considers that the situation on board did not meet the conditions laid down in MLC Standard A2.5.2, 2006 relating to abandonment, in particular as regards the organisation of repatriation, the provision of the necessary support and maintenance to the crew, and the payment of salaries.


13 March 2026: International Maritime Organisation
Flag: Comoros FALSE on GISIS before 1 May 2025 Comoros


19 February 2026: International Transport Workers' Federation
The French navy intercepted the suspected Russian shadow tanker at the end of January 2026.