Abandoned crew on a hunger strike in Kuwait
The protest is meant to bring attention to their plight, reports an international transit labor group.
By Michael McGrady, Maritime Direct Americas Correspondent
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) announced on January 22 that Indian, Turkish, Azerbaijaniani, and Bangladeshi seafarers entered the third week of an ongoing hunger strike in the port of Shuaiba, Kuwait.
According to the ITF, crew members aboard the bulker Ula have been striking since January 7 to finally be granted the right to disembark after 14 months aboard and receive up to $400,000 in unpaid salary. The Maritime Executive reported that the Ula and her crew had been stuck in port for 11 months.
The crew members were abandoned by the shipowner, Qatari firm Aswan Trading and Contracting. The flag state for the Ula, Palau, suspended its registration in September of 2020. The ITF has accused the Kuwaiti port authorities of currently exacerbating the crisis.
“The Kuwaiti authorities must act urgently to save these seafarers from killing themselves through this hunger strike. While it was the Qatari shipowner and the Flag State of Palau who let these seafarers down, we call on Kuwait to show leadership in resolving this crisis,” said Mohamed Arrachedi, the ITF’s Arab World and Iran Network Coordinator, in a press release.
Six crew members have already been hospitalized in order to stabilize their blood pressure and sugar levels. Seafarers aboard the vessel remain at risk if they continue to refuse food and water, notes the ITF.
“Since the ship is now flagless, it is left up to the Kuwaiti maritime authorities to resolve the situation. Kuwait has a legal and moral responsibility to save these seafarers while there is still time,” said Arrachedi.
