Working Conditions Aboard the Azra-C

In a harrowing situation, ten Indian seafarers aboard the cargo vessel 'Azra C', docked in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, find themselves stranded and starving after months of abandonment. They urgently reached out for assistance, declaring, "We have no food; we are going to die here. We are utterly helpless." The crew has run out of essential supplies, as their owner has left the ship unattended. With unpaid wages exceeding $53,000, the seafarers are trapped and unable to procure the basic necessities of life. While the Directorate General of Shipping in India continues its efforts on behalf of the crew, it has managed to repatriate only eight members. The situation on board is dire, as one crew member highlighted in a distressing radio call: "We have only 800 liters of diesel fuel left on the ship; after this runs out, we will have no fuel left at all. We've been here for 7-8 months without pay, and for over two months, we've been unable to contact anyone—neither the owner nor any of the company's workers." Previously in touch with the local shipping agent, the stranded crew was informed that there were no updates on their plight. Alarmingly, they have been without fresh water for over 20 days, and their remaining fuel and provisions are expected to diminish within a week. To survive, they are running the emergency generator for only 5-6 hours daily, just to prepare meals and charge their essential devices. The crew's appeals to the Port Authority have gone unanswered, and they have made multiple attempts to contact authorities in Kadıköy, only to be told to wait without any follow-up. In a desperate message, they plead for immediate action: "Sirs, we cannot survive much longer under these conditions; we will die here. I implore you: please investigate this matter with the utmost urgency and ensure that all our outstanding wages are paid. We cannot abandon the ship without receiving our salaries, and if we remain here, we will surely perish." The seafarers have reinforced their pleas through another distress call on May 7, 2026, reporting that despite reaching out to various authorities in Turkey and Mongolia, as well as the relevant insurance provider, resolutions remain elusive. The situation highlights the urgent need for intervention to secure the safety and dignity of those who work at sea.

The vessel AZRA C, identified by its IMO number 8518560, has been flagged for abandonment by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). Current details surrounding this distressing situation are as follows: - **Flag**: Mongolia - **Current Port**: Istanbul, Turkiye - **Outstanding Wages**: Crewmembers have not been paid for two months - **Total Crew Members**: 15 seafarers - **Nationalities of Crew**: Represented by Egyptian, Indian, and Turkish nationals - **Date Reported to ITF**: October 1, 2025 - **Case Status**: Open This information has been extracted from the ITF Seafarer Abandonment List, a critical resource aimed at monitoring and addressing instances of crew abandonment globally.

On August 6, 2023, the 'Azra C' was detained in Istanbul, raising significant safety concerns as inspectors discovered an alarming total of 54 deficiencies. Among these, 26 were classified as serious enough to warrant the vessel's detention. The report highlighted several critical issues that need immediate attention: 1. Missing Civil Liability Certificate for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage 2. Absence of Rescue Boats 3. Lifeboats Not Properly Maintained 4. Improper Launching Arrangements for Survival Craft 5. Lifesaving Appliances Lacking Operational Readiness 6. Liferafts Not Properly Stowed 7. Inadequate Drills for Enclosed Space Entry and Rescue 8. Fire Pump and Associated Piping Not Up to Standards 9. Inoperative Ventilation Systems 10. Corrosion Damage to Beams, Frames, and Floors 11. Damaged Closing Devices and Watertight Doors 12. Noncompliance in Structural Conditions of Ballast, Fuel, and Other Tanks 13. Additional Structural Condition Issues 14. Damaged Safe Means of Access 15. Unsafe Anchoring Devices 16. Risks Present in Crew Accommodation Areas 17. Damaged Ventilators and Air Pipe Casings 18. Cracked Manholes and Flush Scuttles 19. Sewage Discharge Connection Not Compliant 20. Malfunctioning Ballast Water Management System 21. Noncompliance of the ISM Certificate Following the inspection, the 'Azra C' was released on August 15, 2023, and was granted permission for a single voyage to Misrata for permanent repairs. As of August 18, the vessel was anchored at coordinates 40° 56' N 028° 52' E. This incident follows a previous detention on January 27, 2023, in Haifa, where the ship faced 14 deficiencies for one day.

On January 27, 2025, the merchant vessel 'Azra C' found itself in a critical situation as it was detained in Haifa, Israel, due to the identification of 14 significant deficiencies. Among these, seven were classified as serious enough to warrant the vessel's detention. The issues outlined included a lack of crew familiarization with emergency systems, an inoperative emergency fire pump and its associated piping, and inadequacies in the fixed fire extinguishing installation. Additionally, there were concerns regarding the crew's performance evaluations, missing entries in the oil record book, substandard control of discharge pollution prevention measures, and an unverified ISM certificate. The ship was subsequently released the same day and has remained moored in Haifa, at coordinates 32° 49' N, 035° 01' E, as of January 29. For more updates, visit our Facebook page.