Gibraltar Invokes MLC to Get Abandoned Seafarers Home

Gibraltar has used the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) – which lays down minimum standards for seafarers – to pay for the repatriation of crews left stranded after shipping contracts were cancelled.


The 40 crew members on the Maersk Valletta, Maersk Vigo and Maersk Vancouver had been left stranded off Germany since July after the cancellation of ship management contracts with Morocco’s International Maritime Transport Corporation. (The ships were formerly in the Maersk fleet but are now Moroccan-owned.)

Gibraltar, the flag state for the vessels, was fulfilling its duties under the MLC, which came into force on 20 August. IMTC has pledged to pay the outstanding salaries owed to the seafarers, who come from the Philippines, Russia and Ukraine.

According to an ITF news release, IMTC has pledged to pay the outstanding salaries owed to the seafarers, who come from the Philippines, Russia and Ukraine.