Seafarers Abandoned on Aging Tugboat After Owner Changes Flag

Four seafarers have been left stranded aboard a 60-year-old tugboat, the Wycliffe, after the shipowner switched the vessel’s flag state to Vanuatu to bypass stricter labor and safety regulations enforced in the United States.

The crew members, who are from Colombia, Panama, and Peru, endured harsh conditions during their time on the vessel. Reports indicate that they suffered from insufficient food and water supplies, as well as limited access to medical care.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has stepped in to assist the seafarers, utilizing its resources and network to ensure they receive the compensation they are owed. The seafarers were abandoned at Puget Sound in Washington last week and were on the verge of being deported to their home countries before the ITF's intervention.

Cyrus Donato, an ITF Inspector, criticized the shipowner's actions, highlighting that the re-flagging of the vessel was a deliberate tactic. Donato described the move as cynical and unethical, aimed at increasing profits by evading regulations at the expense of the crew's well-being.

Donato further explained that the crew is currently in a precarious situation, lacking the protection of U.S. laws. He emphasized that the ITF is working diligently to secure full compensation for the seafarers.

The Wycliffe, which measures 40 meters in length and 9 meters in width, was built in 1965 and has a troubled history. Previous crew members have abandoned the vessel due to safety concerns on two separate occasions—once in October 2023 and again in May 2024. The tugboat also lost its contract with Washington State Ferries after a towing operation involving two retired ferries ended in failure.