Spanish authorities have detained the general cargo ship Lady Mina in the Port of Las Palmas after inspectors found an alleged crew abandonment case involving months of unpaid wages, expired employment contracts and suspected fraudulent certification.
The detention followed an inspection by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). The investigation began after a crewmember asked for help in May to return home after his contract expired. According to the ITF, six seafarers remain on board and are owed around USD 68,000 in unpaid wages.
Inspectors found that several crew members had stayed on board beyond the maximum service period allowed under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006). Two seafarers have been on the vessel since April 2025, while the chief engineer has served since October 2024 and reportedly has not been paid since January 2026.
The inspection also revealed serious safety and welfare issues. The ITF said MV Lady Mina was missing required statutory certificates and carried what appeared to be a forged MLC financial security certificate designed to protect seafarers in abandonment cases.
After the case was reported to Spain’s maritime authority, the vessel was detained in Las Palmas. Talks with the Turkish shipowner led to two crew members receiving their unpaid wages and being repatriated. Food and drinking water were also delivered to those still on board.
However, the ITF says the owner has taken no further action to repatriate the remaining crew, pay outstanding wages or repair the vessel. The federation is now seeking legal action to arrest the ship and recover the unpaid salaries.
This is not the first alleged abandonment case involving MV Lady Mina. The vessel was added to the ILO/IMO Joint Database of Abandonment of Seafarers in late 2024 after another crew was reportedly left without wages for five months in Algeria.
More recently, Port State Control inspectors in Ghana found 18 deficiencies related to structural condition, fire safety, radio equipment and living conditions on board.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in protecting seafarers’ rights under the MLC, especially when financially troubled operators fail to provide wages, repatriation and proper crew welfare.
