200433 Ship Abandoned

Ship Abandoned
MARS Report 200433

As Superintendent in Ship Management outfit, I found that one Shipowner stopped payments to another manager due to bankruptcy. That manager then terminated the contracts and advised the Flag State. The vessel was left in the lurch with crew on board and as a potential danger to safety of lives as well as marine environment as she had lost one anchor in a storm when anchored. Neither the country the ship was in, the Flag State, or the management heeded the request of help from ship's staff who were demoralised anyway.

I was wondering if IMO has imposed certain laws and rules on a Flag State to report these types of dangerous incident? Is any report available or published by a non-acting Flag State? The entire ISM Code goes down the drain when a management - to protect its DOC -- washes of its hands by terminating the agreement on account of non-payments. The Flag State(s), in their greed to earn revenues, register the vessels and the matter seems to end there. The above is a true fact and is not related to a so-called FOC flag but a well recognised National Flag.

Is there anything that can be done in these circumstances? Comments from Authorities would be welcome. RB.