Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Tropic-Hope

In a significant development for maritime welfare, seven crew members of the 'Tropic Hope' are set to return home after spending over a year onboard the vessel. The repatriation is scheduled for October 10, 2020, in Palm Beach, as confirmed by Karl Risser, an inspector with the International Transport Workers' Federation. The ship arrived in Halifax on October 4, where Risser met with representatives from the Canada Border Services Agency and Transport Canada that evening to reach a resolution. The 'Tropic Hope' has been operating a route between Halifax, Florida, and the Caribbean, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, crew members have been unable to return home, making this repatriation especially vital. During a previous inspection on September 20, Risser expressed his concerns about the crew's prolonged stay, with some members having been aboard since August and September 2019—well beyond their original nine-month contracts. Adding urgency, another group of seven crew members is also set to return to their homes during a stop in Palm Beach on October 23. The initial group of returning crew was prioritized due to their extended time at sea. The situation was initially brought to light when a wife of a seafarer on board expressed her worries about her husband's mental and physical well-being, prompting Transport Canada to take action. On September 20, following the complaint, an inspection revealed a deficiency in compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), and the master of the vessel was instructed to address it. The International Transport Workers’ Federation has committed to ongoing oversight of the 'Tropic Hope' to ensure that the shipping company adheres to necessary regulations and standards moving forward.