Abuse of seafarers on tanker stranded off UAE coast
The U.K.-based charity Human Rights at Sea has published an investigative report into the abuse of seafarers on board the "Iba" which is moored offshore Ak Hamriyah since July 4, 2017. Members of the crew told Human Rights at Sea that they have been threatened with criminal proceedings should they report their concerns to a local authority. They said threats have also been made regarding their careers. The crew comprised of one Indian, three Pakistani, one Sri Lankan and one Myanmarian. They were currently stranded on the unsafe vessel. Their basic human rights breached, with a deprivation of liberty, lack of protection for their health and bodily integrity, lack of protection for their right to life and lack of family life due to their enforced retention on the tanker. In addition, for the last six months the crew have been denied access to medical treatment, further aggravating their suffering. The crew claimed that their safety has been compromised by the provision of unfit personal protective equipment. The fire extinguishers on board wree empty, and the life boat’s hydraulic system was leaking and was unable to be tested. The crew have raised these issues with the owner Alco Shipping, who allegedly responded that fire extinguishers were unnecessary. Several crew members have been suffering from undiagnosed skin conditions since February 2017. Despite raising this issue with Alco Shipping, they have been denied access to medical treatment. Instead, Alco shipping have required a payment of $250 to ferry each afflicted crew member to shore, a far larger sum than the crew can afford. This requirement has been exacerbated by Alco Shipping’s non-payment of wages. The crew have repeatedly been left without fresh food or fresh water, most recently from July 4 to 8. While Alco Shipping eventually delivered fresh water, food had to be provided by the Indian Consulate in Dubai. The crew’s passports were removed on their sign-on date and have not been returned despite repeated sign-off requests. The crew was anxious to be repatriated as soon as possible. In addition, the crew have been without pay for the past six months.
