MV Berkat Tuah: Malaysian Maritime Dept, NUSPM in Dubai to repatriate stranded crew

Malaysian maritime authorities and the National Union of Seafarers of Malaysia (NUSPM) are in Dubai to coordinate assistance for the stranded crew of the MV Berkat Tuah.

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We will ensure all crew members are safe and can be brought back to the country.

The five Malaysian sailors have been stuck for over a year in the United Arab Emirates' waters due to commercial disputes and financial difficulties faced by the ship's operator. The Director General of Marine, Datuk Dickson Dollah, stated that he and NUSPM representatives would meet with the Malaysian Consulate General in Dubai to facilitate the crew's repatriation.

"We will ensure all crew members are safe and can be brought back to the country," Dickson said. However, he noted a lack of action from the MV Berkat Tuah's owner. "So far, there is no indication that the owner of MV Berkat Tuah has taken responsibility or the necessary steps to address the situation faced by the crew," he added.

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So far, there is no indication that the owner of MV Berkat Tuah has taken responsibility or the necessary steps to address the situation faced by the crew.

The crisis reportedly stems from a Singapore-based company detaining the vessel and disregarding a court order regarding financial liabilities, leading to the operator's funding constraints. NUSPM Secretary Ikmal Azam Thanaraj Abdullah affirmed that the welfare and repatriation of the five sailors remain a priority, with the union and the Marine Department working tirelessly to expedite their return.

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The Union, along with the Director General of Marine, has been working tirelessly, even going beyond their responsibilities, to ensure the process of bringing back the five sailors can be expedited.