CASES
Israel: Sham union agreement, stolen wages
In April 2025, only three months after failing to pay a seafarer in Thailand, the same ship – run by the same company and still under a sham ISU-Lanibra agreement – was abandoned in Israel.
This time, the crew were owed tens of thousands of dollars in stolen wages.
None of the crew contacted ISU-Lanibra as they didn’t know they were sailing under a sham agreement – but the crew were happy to see the local ITF inspector in Haifa. A few weeks later the ITF managed to return more than USD 39,000 to the ship’s captain and crew.
REPORT
Israel – Eleen Neptune (IMO 9430844): abandonment April 2025
Only three months after the ITF intervened to return stolen wages to a seafarer on the Eleen Neptune in Thailand, the ship was abandoned again, this time in Israel, with deficiencies found on the ship affecting two sets of crews: the ‘sign-off’ crew (the crew departing a ship at the end of a contract), and the crew on board at the time of the inspection.
At no point did any crew contact ISU-Lanibra. Moreover, while the crew was happy to see the local ITF inspector, knowing this meant the likely resolution of their problems, the crew was unaware of being under an ISU-Lanibra agreement.
After the ITF’s intervention, by mid-April, USD 30,000 was wired to crew members as payment for February salaries. However, this payment did not include the captain’s owed salary of USD 9,300, which was subsequently sent with claims of a “misunderstanding” – after the ITF again intervened, while also ensuring the ship’s insurers were made aware of the situation.
CASES
BRAZIL: SEAFARERS ABANDONED WITHOUT PAY
An international crew of seafarers on the Eleen Eva were abandoned in Brazil – and subject to wage theft of USD178,000. They reached out to ISU, but no one ever replied. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) stepped in to help: the seafarers were repatriated and received their stolen wages in full. REPORT Brazil – […]
UK: Illegal wages in P&O scandal
On 17 March 2022, 786 seafarers were summarily dismissed by British company P&O Ferries to be replaced by a far cheaper agency crew.
Greece: “Defamation, illegal acquisition, accepting the products of crime”
The Greek union, the Panhellenic Seaman’s Federation, has filed a lawsuit against ISU President Ludvik Jesenicnik.
Finland: stolen wages, ISU binned
Finland is a hot spot for trade union action against ships with ISU-Lanibra agreements: the Finnish Seafarers’ Union (SMU) has taken action against ships from 2018 through to today. In one case, after a ship docked in Rauma in 2020 and refused access to an ITF inspector who was made aware of crew complaints, the […]
Sweden: blockades scrap ISU deals
Sweden’s Service and Communications Union blockaded a bulk carrier that tried to dock in Uddevalla with an ISU-Lanibra agreement.
Australia: Fair Work Ombudsman investigates underpayment on ISU-Lanibra ships
If the complaints are upheld by the regulator, the companies could be subjected to heavy fines, compliance notices or litigation.
Thailand: ITF answers seafarer’s plea for help
At no point did any ISU-Lanibra representative reply. After the ITF intervened, the seafarer received his owed wages.