Bahri fleet crew-change delays 2020 (aggregate)
2020-2020 · multiple Saudi ports · status: resolved
- Opened
- 2020-04-01
- Closed
- 2020-11-01
- Port
- multiple Saudi ports
- Flag
- SAU
- Shipowner
- Bahri (National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia)
- Insurer named on DMLC
- P&I coverage in place
- Seafarers affected
- aggregate
- Nationalities
- IN, PH, PK, BD
Summary
During the peak COVID-19 travel restrictions in mid-2020, several hundred seafarers across the Bahri (National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia) fleet were unable to sign off due to Saudi border-closure and Indian/Filipino repatriation quotas. Wages continued to be paid throughout — this is not a classic MLC A2.5.2 abandonment. Bahri is a state-linked owner with strong P&I posture. Cases are catalogued here for the COVID-era pattern of extended-duty rather than abandonment; the crew hardship was real even where insurance and wages were compliant.
Outcome for crew
all repatriated over 4-7 months; wages paid throughout.
Source
Resolution / documentation via: ITF + Neptune Declaration
https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
Related rights + resources
- · Abandonment rights (MLC A2.5.2) — the regulatory framework this case is governed by
- · Unpaid wages
- · MLC 2006 financial-security providers directory
- · International Group P&I Clubs