The Maritime and Port Authority on Friday (21 April) released a statement in response to a International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) media release on the plight of crew on board livestock carrier “Yangtze Harmony”:
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has made an inaccurate claim that “Singapore may have contravened the MLC” in its release “ITF secures freedom for 13 abandoned Filipino seafarers stuck in Singapore for 5 months; $1m in backpay won for crews” dated 17 Apr 2023.
The Liberia-flagged livestock carrier, YANGTZE HARMONY, has been under arrest in Singapore as executed by the Sheriff’s Office, Supreme Court since 25 October 2022 pursuant to an application by Posh Projects Pte Ltd to secure its claim for unpaid sums due and owing under a towage contract for the towage of the vessel from Brisbane, Australia to Singapore. The Supreme Court granted a judicial sale of the vessel on 18 January 2023 and the bidding and sale process is underway.
Under Standard A.2.5.1 – Repatriation of the Maritime Labour Convention1, the vessel’s Flag State, which in this case is Liberia, is obliged to make arrangements to repatriate seafarers who are entitled to repatriation, should the shipowner fail to make such arrangements or meet the cost of repatriation. In the event the Flag State fails to repatriate the seafarers, either the Port State, which is the country from which the seafarers are to be repatriated, or the seafarers’ home State(s), may repatriate the seafarers and recover the cost of repatriation from the Flag State. Liberia has been fulfilling its role and obligations as the Flag State for YANGTZE HARMONY throughout this period when the vessel is under arrest, and hence, there was no requirement by Singapore as Port State to assume the obligations to repatriate the crew.
Notwithstanding, as the Port State, MPA kept in close contact throughout this period with Liberia, the Sheriff’s Office and its appointed agent to monitor and facilitate the repatriation plan and ensured that the seafarers’ well-being was taken care of while they were onboard the vessel, the granting of shore leave and the access to medical facilities if required.
There were no restrictions by Sheriff’s Office on the repatriation and the grant of shore leave for all the thirteen seafarers onboard. During this period, three seafarers were granted leave by the Sheriff’s Office to seek medical attention on shore on 16 December 2022. In January 2023, three seafarers were repatriated. On 27 February 2023, the Sheriff’s Office obtained from the Liberian Ship Registry’s dispensation for the minimum manning of the vessel to be reduced from thirteen to nine crew members, which would allow four more seafarers to be repatriated. However, MPA understands the Master and all remaining crew decided then to stay onboard the vessel until the settlement of the outstanding wages owed to them.
In April 2023, all thirteen seafarers who remained onboard had received their outstanding wages for the period from November 2022 to April 2023. The outstanding wages were paid by YANGTZE HARMONY’s Protection & Indemnity(P&I) Insurance club under the financial security insurance in place in respect of the vessel and the arresting party. The remaining outstanding wages in excess of that which the vessel’s P&I Club is legally required to cover were paid by the arresting party and will be recovered by the arresting party from the proceeds of the judicial sale of the vessel. All thirteen seafarers have since been repatriated.
As the Port State, Singapore worked closely with the Flag State and the ship agents to ensure that the seafarers were repatriated and were given the necessary support.
Related: Singapore: Glander International Bunkering arrests “Yangtze Harmony” over partially paid bunker fuel invoice
Related: “Yangtze Harmony” bunker claims pile up with Peninsula Petroleum seeking repayment of USD 206,000 debt
Photo credit: Marine Traffic / Sergei Skriabin
Published: 24 April, 2023
Latest extension of MaritimeSG Together Package intended to provide continued support for regional ferry services sector and Singaporean seafarers.
Duo plans to pursue retrofits of additional barges and tugboats, creating an ammonia-powered fleet including bunkering barges for emission-free refuelling of ammonia-powered ships.
Agency has tested a number of ULSFO marine fuel samples from ARA religion which showed sulphur levels ranging from 0.12 % m/m – 0.14 % m/m, it states.
R&T has access to array of confidential documents that risk being abused in order to benefit the supervisors to the detriment of the Lim family, reports Reuters.
BunkerPlanner rule engine is a cloud-based tool that automates decision-making in situations where there are specific rules to operate and bunker vessels.
‘Transpetrol has made the decision to close its service station and together with this limit its aviation and bunkering operations for the next 15 days,’ states company update.
Advanced analytical services will support support clients in the shipping sector allowing for more accurate and efficient testing of methanol as a marine fuel, Bryan Quek tells bunkering publication Manifold Times.
While slow steaming may help save fuel cost and lowers emissions, it may end up being a costly endeavour for ship owners. Innospec suggests looking at smart slow steaming instead, shares Nicea Ng.
Bunker claim was regarding the supply and delivery of RMG380 to the demise charter of the India-flagged oil tanker on 24 February 2022 at Yosu port, according to court documents obtained by Manifold Times.
Claim was regarding sales of LSFO from Gulf Petrochem to Prime Oil Trading on 24 February 2020 which was due for payment on 23 June 2020 after a 120-day credit period, state court documents.
Remi Eriksen of DNV Group, shared during event, the business case for decarbonization must involve four key factors including alternative bunker fuels once safety guidelines and bunkering infrastructure are established.
Malaysian government will ensure all obligations and conditions under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships or MARPOL are implemented, says Transport Minister.
