The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has facilitated the repatriation of 12 seafarers who were left stranded aboard the MV Rahaf Moon after the vessel's owner stopped providing support.

According to a press release issued on Monday, August 10, the seafarers, comprising nine Indians, two Azerbaijanis and one Turkish national, spent months aboard the vessel in Ghanaian waters, facing shortages of food and fresh water and unpaid wages exceeding US$150,000.

The vessel, which is registered under the flag of St Kitts & Nevis, was identified in Ghanaian waters on January 20, 2026 after support from its owner, ATSE Global Shipping Company Limited, ceased.

The situation left the crew in difficult conditions and prompted intervention by the GMA to address their welfare and ensure that Ghana met its obligations under international maritime regulations.

According to the GMA, the crew endured prolonged hardship, including restricted access to essential supplies.

The unpaid wages had accumulated to more than US$150,000, adding to the difficulties faced by the seafarers while they remained aboard the vessel.

The GMA subsequently coordinated with several institutions and organisations to provide assistance and work towards the crew's eventual return home.

Those involved included the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), Point 3 Logistics, Boti Crew, the vessel's Protection and Indemnity Club, legal representatives, the Indian High Commission and the Turkish Embassy in Ghana.

The intervention was aimed at protecting the welfare of the crew while ensuring that the vessel remained safe and operational.

As efforts to resolve the situation continued, emergency assistance was provided to the seafarers.

The assistance included food, water, fuel and other essential supplies.

Arrangements were also made to maintain the safety and operational integrity of the MV Rahaf Moon while the legal and administrative processes surrounding the vessel were addressed.

The intervention eventually resulted in the recovery of four months of outstanding wages for the crew.

After the payment was secured, the 12 seafarers were repatriated to their respective countries on July 23, 2026.

The GMA said the payment of four months' wages did not necessarily settle all outstanding claims by the crew.

Under international maritime law, seafarers' wage claims remain protected and are given priority during the legal settlement of claims against a vessel.

The MV Rahaf Moon is currently under the custody of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and is undergoing legal processes towards a judicial sale.

The GMA said the remaining wage claims would be addressed through those proceedings.

The Authority is also putting in place a legal framework to govern the use of proceeds from any future judicial sale of the vessel.

That framework will cover the settlement of approved expenses and maintenance-related claims, among other obligations connected to the vessel.

Following the departure of the foreign crew, the GMA directed the deployment of a qualified Ghanaian skeletal crew to the MV Rahaf Moon.

The crew is expected to maintain security and essential onboard operations while the vessel remains under the custody of the GPHA and the legal processes continue.

The arrangement is intended to ensure that the vessel is not left without personnel capable of maintaining its basic security and operational requirements.

The case has brought attention to the protections available to seafarers who are abandoned or left without adequate support while working aboard vessels.

The GMA's intervention involved both humanitarian assistance and regulatory action, with the Authority working with government institutions, international organisations, diplomatic missions and private-sector stakeholders.

The repatriation of the 12 crew members on 23 July brings an end to their immediate ordeal aboard the vessel, although legal processes concerning the MV Rahaf Moon and outstanding financial claims remain ongoing.

The GMA said the case demonstrated the importance of cooperation among maritime regulators, port authorities, diplomatic missions, seafarers' representatives and other stakeholders when dealing with abandoned or distressed vessels.

The Authority also reiterated its commitment to protecting seafarers' welfare and ensuring compliance with international maritime standards as the legal proceedings concerning the MV Rahaf Moon continue.