some of the inhuman conditions seafarers face aboard the Palau flagged cargo vessel, the Serafina. ITF Photo
The Palau-flagged cargo vessel Serafina has been detained by Israeli maritime authorities after an inspection revealed severe inhuman conditions on board.
ITF Inspector Assaf Hadar reported finding a lack of employment contracts, improper food storage, bug infestations, and broken toilets, describing the situation as the worst he has encountered in his four years of inspecting ships in Israel.
The inspection uncovered numerous violations, including food storage freezers operating above 0°C, rotten meat emitting a foul stench, and sanitation facilities in disrepair. Haifa’s Port State Control (PSC) identified 29 defects on the vessel, 18 of which were significant enough to warrant detention on their own.
“This is an absolute disgrace that seafarers are forced to work in these inhuman conditions,” Hadar said. “In four years of inspecting ships for the ITF in Israel, I have never seen anything this bad.”
The Serafina is registered under the Palau flag, known for being one of the worst flags operating in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the ITF. The crew, comprising 12 Turkish nationals and five from Egypt and Azerbaijan, faced appalling living conditions, including bug and flea infestations, empty and improperly stored freezers, and broken toilet and shower facilities.
To help the crew, Hadar has arranged for portable toilets and showers to be available for the crew on the dockside and is working to ensure they are repatriated to their home countries.
“Seafarers have a right to decent working conditions. And the ITF and its inspectors will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in demanding their rights are respected,” Hadar concluded.
Equasis data shows the Serafina is owned by DALYAN SHIPPING LTD and managed by MERT MARINE CORP, both based in Turkey.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 109,835 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
The U.S. military has carried out a precision airstrike on a key command-and-control facility operated by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Sana’a, Yemen’s capital city, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)....
Twelve European countries are set to clamp down on tankers that move millions of barrels of Russian petroleum around the world — by asking to see how they’re protected against oil spills and other high-cost claims.
The EU’s 15th sanctions package against Russia for the first time targets Yamal LNG by including a carrier in service of the project. The ice-capable tanker Christophe de Margerie, one...
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 109,835 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
