ITF Seeks Repatriation Of 16 Stranded Seafarers’ In Yemen Over Israeli Airstrike

The International Transport Workers Federation ITF has called for the repatriation of sixteen seafarers’ abandoned by the ship owners in Yemen.

ITF in a statement, said its urgently seeking repatriation of seafarers abandoned in the Yemeni city of Hodeidah which was targeted by Israeli airstrikes on Saturday.

Sixteen seafarers from Syria and India are stranded in the city.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has already supported eight Syrian seafarers in disembarking and finding refuge in a hotel. It is now working to ensure the eight seafarers who remain trapped on the ship – the ‘Captain Tarek’ – can also disembark and be repatriated to India.

ITF Flags of Convenience Network Coordinator for the Arab World and Iran, Mohamed Arrachedi, said: “These seafarers are facing a truly horrific situation as they and their families fear for their lives after being shamelessly abandoned in a war zone.

“We have been in contact with all the seafarers throughout this situation. They witnessed the airstrikes first-hand and are understandably traumatised and desperate to return home to be reunited with their families.

“The ITF is doing all it can to support these seafarers, and we are currently evaluating what legal support we can offer to help the seafarers to recover their outstanding wages.

“We urgently call on the ship’s owners and all parties with interest in and obligations to the ship and the crew to do everything they can to get these seafarers back home.”

The seafarers took photo of the airstrikes, showing just how close they were to danger: