The Oceanic-Fortune: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

The crew aboard the stranded tanker 'A Whale,' owned by Nobo Su’s Taiwan-based company Today Makes Tomorrow (TMT), is about to receive their full salaries and prepare for their journey home. This positive update comes directly from the vessel’s master, Khan Jubair Niaz, who shared the news via email. In a message sent on Tuesday morning, July 23, he informed the Sailors’ Society, a charitable organization that has been assisting the crew during their challenging circumstances. "On Monday, we were notified by TMT that they have processed our salaries for the months of February, March, and April," Niaz stated. This timely resolution brings much relief to the crew members after weeks of uncertainty.

In a distressing situation, 21 seafarers remain stranded aboard the Liberian-flagged vessel A. Whale in the Gulf of Suez, enduring a dire predicament for nearly six months due to a persistent technical malfunction. The crew has reached out to a sailor's helpline in Chennai, revealing that they have exhausted their supplies of fuel and food, and haven't received their wages for an extended period. Owned by the TMT Group, a prominent global shipping enterprise from Taiwan, the A. Whale is an ore-oil carrier amidst a troubling backdrop, as the shipping group recently sought bankruptcy protection from a court in Houston due to its unmanageable debts. The vessel's crew comprises 14 Indian sailors who expressed their plight in a desperate SOS message sent on June 21, highlighting the lack of assistance from any authorities. "We have run out of bunker (fuel), and our food is rotting. We have not received payments for the last six months, and repatriation seems unlikely. Tensions are rising among the crew members. We are currently at anchorage in the Suez," stated one crew member in the communication to the helpline. Manoj Joy, the National Coordinator of Sailors Helpline, contacted Mumbai-based recruitment agent Capt. Subodh Tiwari, who disclosed that he did not directly recruit the Indian crew, lacking the necessary 'Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers' license'. Instead, he facilitated their recruitment through another company. Joy emphasized the need for the Director-General of Shipping to take appropriate measures against the recruitment agent. In a conversation with The Hindu, a Shipping Ministry official underscored the urgent need to repatriate the stranded sailors and address their outstanding wage issues. "We believe that these sailors have been recruited through a Recruitment and Placement Services Agent. We will investigate why they have not been compensated for such an extended period, what obstructed the crew's replacement, and why the management failed to resolve the vessel's technical complications," the official remarked.

In a significant move, Today Makes Tomorrow (TMT), a prominent Taiwan-based shipping company, has initiated Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings for 23 of its entities. The filing took place in Houston, Texas, with TMT USA Shipmanagement LLC leading the application. Nobu Su, the company's CEO, stated, "I accept full responsibility for the problems TMT now faces, but I am working 18 hours a day to ensure that this major asset for Taiwan’s national economic and global business reputation is not brought down due to adverse circumstances beyond my control." The TMT group has a fleet of 17 vessels, each operated by separate ship-owning companies. However, several vessels are currently facing arrests across multiple international ports including Singapore, Cape Town, Taiwan, Antwerp, and China, due to unpaid bank debts and outstanding dues to vendors and crew. Despite these challenges, Su remains optimistic. He believes that the Chapter 11 proceedings will serve as a strategic avenue for TMT's restructuring efforts, ultimately paving the way for the company's return to financial stability and operational success. This proactive step aims to safeguard the interests of TMT and reinforce Taiwan’s shipping reputation on the global stage. [SinoShipNews 21/06/13]