VIET TIN 01
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Cry for help from abandoned tanker
The 'Viet Tin 01' has been stranded in Malaysian waters since mid-March, leading to a desperate situation for the 12 crew members. With dwindling food supplies and no salary, the crew resorted to writing “Help us. No food. No salary” on the hull of the vessel to seek assistance. They also dispatched a distress call via a mobile app popular among seafarers worldwide. In response, the National Union of Seafarers Peninsular Malaysia (NUSPM) promptly provided food and essential supplies, while also coordinating with the Vietnamese government to facilitate the repatriation of the stranded seafarers. The NUSPM revealed that the tanker was effectively abandoned by its owner, leaving the crew without fuel, resulting in deplorable living conditions characterised by blackouts and sweltering temperatures. The crew has been financially unable to hire a boat to reach the shore for additional food supplies, and the ship itself has become a navigational hazard in the waters. The NUSPM was actively trying to contact the ship’s owner, the Viet Trust Shipping, which operates a fleet of two small tankers, to hold them accountable for their crew’s welfare and the vessel’s maintenance. The union emphasised that the Vietnamese government, as a signatory to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), had a responsibility to enforce minimum standards for seafarers. If the owner failed in their obligations, the government should have the authority to access funds from the owner’s protection and indemnity (P&I) club coverage to ensure the crew’s basic needs were met. Furthermore, the NUSPM has urged the Vietnam Maritime Administration and the Vietnamese embassy in Malaysia to ensure that the crew members receive all due back wages immediately. The Vietnamese embassy was working on a solution to repatriate the stranded seafarers. Report with photo: https://maritimefairtrade.org/desperate-messages-crews-plea-inscribed-on-ships-hull/
Stranded sailors to be repatriated
The crew of 12 Vietnamese sailors stranded in Malaysian waters aboard the 'Veet Tin 01' since the movement control order (MCO) came into effect will soon be able to return to their home country after spending months at sea. The Vietnamese embassy in Kuala Lumpur has been able to get in touch with the captain of the ship, Luong Quyet, about the crew’s situation and needs. They were working with the authorities in Vietnam to arrange a flight for the 12 sailors. The embassy would continue supplying them with essentials as they needed to stay on the ship in the meantime. The embassy had obtained information on the crew in early June, after the sailors reached out through the embassy’s hotline number. The embassy then began working on channelling food and supplies to the ship. A representative of the Vietnam community communication group helped the embassy deliver money, food and essentials to the crew. The crew, which had been stranded in Malaysian waters since mid-March with food and supplies running low, eventually resorted to painting distress messages on their ship’s hull in order to ask for help. The National Union of Seafarers of Peninsular Malaysia had urged the Vietnamese government to repatriate its citizens, adding that it was obligated to ensure the well-being of the sailors as it was a signatory to the Maritime Labour Convention. The vessel had been abandoned by its owner since mid-March, leaving the crew with no fuel or power. It also said the lack of lights onboard made it a navigational hazard. Meanwhile, a migrant rights NGO called on the authorities to investigate those linked to the ship and to punish the companies responsible for abandoning the sailors. Being stranded at sea for months endangered the sailors’ lives and mental health. They should not be punished for the mistakes of the business owners.
Tanker detained without crew for unauthorized anchoring
The Johor Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) Johor detained the 'Viet Tin 01" in Vietnam for unauthorized anchoring on Dec 8. 2019, at 9 a.m. 4,6 miles NE of r Tanjung Penyusop. The tanker was within the main shipping area of the ship and posed a danger to other ships passing through the area. The engineer, a 61-year-old Vietnamese, said that the ship had drifted from its original position to a point from where all of the crew including the captain had returned to their respective countries. Due to the inclement weather and other security factors, the Special Action Force (PTK) service was used for the inspection. Earlier, the Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone (ZMTS) had attempted to contact the tanker via radio and loudspeakers, but no response was received while the vessel was suspected to have been abandoned. Checks were also made with the Johor Port Authority and the Malaysian Navy, where there were no records of the tanker and the owner of the vessel. To ensure the safety of other vessels passing through the area, the Navy has issued continuous safety information to vessels passing through the area.
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