Serafina Detained for Safety & Living Condition Violations

Insects, fleas, and defective toilets and sinks are among the 29 deficiencies identified aboard the general cargo ship Serafina, leading to its detention by Israeli maritime authorities at the port of Haifa.

ITF Inspector Assaf Hadar reported these issues, describing the conditions as some of the worst he has encountered. The Serafina has been moored at the port since July 9, following a journey from Colombo through the Suez Canal to Haifa.

Of the 29 deficiencies, 18 were classified as regulatory violations, any one of which could have justified the ship's detention. Inspector Hadar remarked, “I have never seen anything this bad,” highlighting the inhumane conditions under which the crew was forced to work.

He emphasized that such conditions pose serious health risks, with issues such as defective refrigerators, flooded showers, and infestations of parasites.

Many crew members, including 12 from Turkey and five from Egypt and Azerbaijan, lack employment contracts and do not speak English, making them vulnerable to exploitation. Hadar is advocating for their repatriation to their home countries and has arranged for portable toilets and showers to be provided on the dock for the crew's use.

The Serafina sails under the flag of Palau, which the ITF has labeled as a flag of convenience, describing it as one of the "worst flags in the Mediterranean." Hadar stated, “Seafarers have a right to decent working conditions. And the ITF and its inspectors will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in demanding their rights are respected.”