What Crew Members Say About Maisha

The 'Maisha', a tanker embroiled in sanctions and tagged on the 'Russian Ghost Fleet' list, has set sail once again after a prolonged 67-day period of inactivity off the coast of France. The vessel, carrying a crew of 29 Filipino sailors, had been anchored in the waters between Saint-Nazaire and Noirmoutier since April 26, unable to dock at any European Union port due to the restrictive measures placed against it. Suspected of transporting Russian crude oil, the 'Maisha' reignited its engines at 10 p.m. on July 2, making its way towards Willemstad, Curaçao, with an estimated time of arrival by July 15. Notably, a visit from a French Navy ship on the same day may have influenced the tanker’s decision to depart. In the preceding days, the captain had engaged in discussions with maritime authorities, seeking resolution while also coordinating with Seaserenity Shipping Ltd, the operating company. The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) expressed deep concern regarding the plight of the sailors, who had not received adequate provisions such as food or fuel during their wait.

On April 26, 2024, the Houthi movement intensified its offensive in the Red Sea, launching missile strikes on two commercial vessels, marking the third consecutive day of maritime assaults. The vessels targeted were identified as the 'Andromeda Star' and 'Maisha'. The UK Maritime Organization confirmed that these incidents transpired approximately 14 nautical miles southwest of Al Mukha, Yemen, in close proximity to the northern end of the Bab el-Mandeb strait. Captained by its skipper, the 'Andromeda Star' sustained slight damage from two missile impacts; however, the vessel, which was making its way from Primorsk to Vadimar, successfully maintained communication and indicated it had not established any contact with Israeli ships. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, allowing the tanker to proceed with its journey. Meanwhile, the missile aimed at the 'Maisha' detonated near the vessel, causing the crew to experience some shock from the blast, although reports confirmed that the tanker, en route from Cochin to the Suez Canal, continued its passage without significant disruption.

A new trip charter has been established, transporting 135,000 tons of dirty cargo from Ceyhan Terminal to Canada. This deal, arranged by Irving, comes with a freight rate of WS 58.75 and is set to commence on September 22. The charter highlights ongoing maritime trade activities within the region.