Panama flagged ship crew denied aid by Colombia
COLOMBIAN authorities are denying “ humanitarian assistance” to 18 crew members of a ship under the Panama flag, stranded off the coast of Barranquilla.
However, given “the refusal of the maritime and judicial authorities of Colombia” we have failed to get the sailors landed ashore to take the plane back to their country, said Panama’s Maritime Authority (AMP) .
On January , the Directorate General of Merchant Marine of AMP sent a nautical inspector on board for a safety inspection and to check the condition of the crew and ship.
“On inspection we found neglect of the ship and its crew by the ship-owner, who unilaterally broke ties with them. There were also safety gaps which resulted in the recommendation not to authorize the ship to navigate itself,” said the AMP.
The Authority sent a note to the Port of Barranquilla to apply to the Directorate General Maritime Maritime Authority of Colombia to allow the ship to anchor in the waters of the Magdalena River Port of Barranquilla, in order to “facilitate, humanitarian assistance and repatriation of the crew paid for by the Panamanian government, however, the landing of the crew has not been allowed “
“The AMP will continue to monitor the condition of the ship and its crew to ensure that national and international regulations that protect labor and social rights of seafarers are met,” the statement said.
The Colombian newspaper El Heraldo reported that the Agatis is anchored 2 miles from Bocas de Ceniza, Barranquilla. ‘’The vessel arrived there from Morocco ” with engine problems that limit its operation.,”