Palau-flagged ship detained in Israel over dire conditions onboard

No employment contracts, food storage freezers all at above 0°c, the stench of rotten meat, a bug infestation, broken sanitation facilities – these are some of the inhuman conditions seafarers faced aboard the Serafina, a 31-year-old general cargo vessel detained in Haifa, Israel after an inspection by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

Haifa’s Port State Control (PSC) detained the Palau-flagged vessel after it found 29 defects – of these, 18 are all classed as rule breaches which on their own could have led to detention.

“It’s an absolute disgrace that seafarers are forced to work in these inhuman conditions,” said ITF inspector Assaf Hader.

Hadar has now ensured portable toilets and showers are available for the crew on the dockside. He is also working to ensure the seafarers are repatriated to their home countries.

The ship is owned by Turkey’s Dalyan Shipping according to Equasis.