All ships belonging to Varun Resources Limited have been banned from calling the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ports, the country’s transport authority said.
India-based LPG shipowning company is a repeat offender when it comes to seafarer abandonment cases in UAE ports and waters.
The latest instance of crew abandonment involves the company’s 1991-built ship Maharshi Vamandeva.
The ship’s crew has been abandoned and left without basic provisions and fuel as well as lack of medical care. The LPG tanker is at anchor off Fujairah, according to its latest AIS data.
The seafarers have also been denied their salaries.
“We hereby urge all ports and ships’ agents to comply with this circular and stop dealing with subject company’s ships to avoid liabilities, ” the transport authority added.
A number of the company’s ships have been arrested in various countries due to unpaid bills.
To remind, in June this year, the 2006-built crude oil tanker Ocean Mare was arrested in Singapore, most likely due to unresolved payments.
In addition, the arrest of Maharshi Bhavatreya was ordered by the Bombay High Court earlier this year on the request of unpaid workers of the ship.
Varun owns eight LPG carriers, majority flagged in South Korea, mostly built in the 1990s, the oldest one being built in 1982.
The fleet is comprised of Maharshi Bhardwaj, Maharshi Vamadeva, Maharshi Bhavatreya, Maharshi Krishnatreya, Maharshi Mahatreya, Maharshi Devatreya, Maharshi Atreya and Maharshi Shubhatreya, the company’s website info shows.
World Maritime News Staff