Crew Abandoned: Turkish Vessel Detained Over Forged Papers and $68K in Stolen Wages

Six seafarers are currently stranded aboard the Lady Mina in the Port of Las Palmas, following the exposure of severe maritime violations by the vessel's Turkish owner. An investigation by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) revealed a pattern of exploitation, including fake safety documents, a forged wage-security certificate, and USD 68,000 in unpaid crew wages.
​The crisis came to light on May 23, 2026, when a desperate crew member reached out to the Las Palmas ITF Inspectorate. The seafarer, who had been stuck on the ship for over 13 months—surpassing the 11-month legal limit set by the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC)—had repeatedly asked to be sent home, only to be ignored by the shipowner.
​"Left to Fend for Themselves"
​When ITF Inspector Gonzalo Galan boarded the Lady Mina, he uncovered appalling living and working conditions. Two crew members had been trapped on the ship since April 2025. Worse still, the Chief Engineer had been on board since October 2024 and hadn't received a single paycheck since January 2026.
​"When I boarded the Lady Mina, it was immediately clear this crew had been left to fend for themselves," Galan stated. "The Chief Engineer went six months without pay but kept the vessel running because he had no other choice. This isn't an oversight—it's abandonment."
​Following Galan's findings, the Spanish Maritime Authority (Capitanía Marítima) officially detained the vessel. Inspectors quickly realized the ship lacked essential statutory safety certificates, and its mandatory MLC financial security documents—meant to protect crew members during abandonments—were entirely fraudulent.
​A History of Neglect
​Initial talks with the owner led to the repatriation and full back-pay of two crew members, alongside a temporary delivery of food and water. Since then, however, progress has stalled. The shipowner has refused to repair the unseaworthy vessel, pay the remaining crew, or send them home.
​The Port Welfare Committee of Las Palmas has since stepped in, with Stella Maris volunteers delivering emergency food supplies to the remaining crew last week. To force a resolution, the ITF is now providing legal counsel to the seafarers to initiate the formal arrest of the vessel.
​Disturbingly, this is a repeat offense for the owner. The Lady Mina was previously flagged in the ILO/IMO Joint Database on Abandonment of Seafarers back in December 2024, after the crew was left stranded and unpaid for five months in Djen Djen, Algeria.
​Call for Accountability
​ITF Maritime Coordinator Jacqueline Smith condemned the owner's actions, noting that these types of maritime sweatshops are becoming far too common.
​"A shipowner runs a vessel into the ground, strings the crew along for months without wages, rationed food, and no way to get home," Smith said. "Six human beings remain stuck on a ship that isn't seaworthy, working for a company that has made clear it doesn't care whether they eat or whether they ever see their families again. No seafarer should be left stranded, dependent on humanitarian assistance simply because a shipowner refuses to meet its legal obligations."
​Smith emphasized that the ITF will exhaust every legal avenue to secure the $68,000 owed to the crew and finally get them home safely.