The crew of m/v Agdash crew asks for help

The Russian-Azerbaijani crew of the tanker Agdash (IMO 9435325, flag of Malta) has asked the International transport workers ' Federation in Russia to help with the repatriation and payment of salary arrears. According to the Russian captain, the crewmembers remain on board from 9 to 16 months, and all this time the Turkish company Palmali does not pay wages. The total amount of debt as of August 4 comes to more than $410 000. At the moment the ship is at the anchorage of the port of Adabiya, Egypt, where she arrived on January 16, 2020, and two days later the validity of the ship's documents had been expired. The captain reports, that according to unofficial information, Agdash was sold, but whether this is true or not is still unknown. Since the vessel supposedly changed the hands, provisions, fresh water, and fuel are supplied by another company, Globechem. Also, since the beginning of July, the management of the new owner has been promising to pay salaries, but does not do so.

«The crew is stuck on a board in distress, - said Olga Ananina, an ITF inspector in Novorossiysk. Despite the fact that the ship has not been arrested, she can not leave the port, as in fact she is abandoned. Palmali doesn't react to inquiries and who in fact owns the tanker is unclear. Unfortunately, as always, seafarers suffer because of an unscrupulous shipowner .Now we are looking for a lawyer». Note that Palmali has been experiencing financial difficulties for a long time. Almost all of its vessels, with the exception of two ( Armada Pride  and  BalticMariner ) are abandoned, arrested or detained in different ports due to large debts. According to some reports, the total amount of Palmali's debt to employees of its fleet comes up to $4000000.