The crew of an offshore support vessel, assisted by the International Transport Workers’ Federation, has turned to social media to raise awareness of their situation. The ITF highlighted the plight of 15 Indian crewmembers aboard a vessel in Indonesia since October 2024. The crew members are facing issues with proper food and threats from the ship’s managers regarding their unpaid wages. They are seeking assistance from Indian seafarer unions and the flag state of the vessel to help them receive their pay and return to India.
The vessel in question, the Star Apollo, has been docked at the Batamec Shipyard in Indonesia since last year. The 15 Indian crew members onboard have not been paid since their contracts began between four and eight months ago, totaling nearly $80,000 in unpaid wages. The ship, registered in St. Kitts & Nevis, was sold to Mumbai-based Vindhyawashini Offshore in 2025 according to the Equasis database.
ITF Global Inspectorate Coordinator Steve Trownsdale expressed concern over the crew’s deteriorating health due to the stress of not being paid. The ITF issued a warning about the escalating issue of seafarer abandonment, with a significant increase in cases in 2024 compared to the previous year. Abandoned seafarers face months of unpaid wages, poor living conditions, and lack of proper rest. Flag states are responsible for assisting abandoned seafarers under maritime regulations, but enforcement and responsiveness remain challenging.
