The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has
claimed that Abdul Naser Saleh , an engineer on a Tanzania-registered vessel,
the Al Maha, has not been paid for seven years.
The ITF claimed that the owner of this vessel had a
history of not paying crewmembers. The ITF also said that he was working
without a contract.
Saleh, a Syrian national, signed aboard the vessel more
than 10 years ago and continues in that role to this day. The ITF said that he
had been “tricked and cajoled by the owners into remaining at his post while
other crew members have come and gone.”
The Al Maha was built as a Ro-Ro but has been converted
into a 1,600 dwt cargo ship that was now operating as a livestock carrier. The
43-years-old vessel is, according to the ITF, currently owned by Abalkhail
Marine Navigation and operates out of Jeddah.
Saleh has been able to go ashore to see family when the
ship stops in Sudan, but he has not seen other family who are in Egypt for the
past 10 years.
Six Sudanese seafarers were recently discharged from the
ship and paid the two-months wages owed to them, the ITF said. However, the ITF
says there are currently another nine Syrian seafarers on the ship who had not
been paid since July 2022. They are reporting that other crewmembers are
believed to have taken legal action against the company for unpaid wages.
Intervening on behalf of the seafarers, the ITF reports
it has been in contact with both maritime officials in Saudi Arabia and
Tanzania. The Saudis have inspected the ship, which is currently docked in
Jeddah, and report they are investigating. Tanzania replied to the ITF saying
it was looking into the case.
The ITF said that the Al Maha was re-registered in
Tanzania for a four-year period as recently as December 2021.
