Spanish maritime authorities have intervened to tow the aging cargo vessel Marine I. According to Maritime Executive, the ship had reportedly been left drifting without fuel or provisions for more than a week near the Strait of Gibraltar – another incident raising concerns over crew abandonment at sea.
Officials in Malaga confirmed that the 5,800 DWT freighter had lost propulsion and that its crew lacked fuel, water and food. A government tug, Luz De Mar, was sent to secure the ship and escort it safely to port.
Built in 1994, Marine I (IMO 9007001) carries a multinational crew of 17. According to the International Transport Workers’ Federation, the seafarers are owed two months’ wages, and the vessel’s UAE-based ownership has been linked to a second ship, Sundry, which also has a history of deficiencies.
The case underscores ongoing issues with vessel maintenance and unpaid crews – a recurring problem in global shipping that continues to surface in strategic waterways like Gibraltar.
