Seafarers work on board the m/v SDL Maya for more than 14 months without replacement

The problems of the m/v SDL Maya's crew have been addressed through concerted action by the Nakhodka Port State Control and the Inspectors of the Far Eastern Territorial Organization of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia (FETO SUR).   It should be noted there were quite a lot of problems on board: in addition to the fact that the vessel operates without a collective agreement of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), the basic rate of an AB Seaman is  USD618  (total salary is USD1,127), the captain's salary is USD3,417, nine crew members have been working for more than 14 months, which is a violation of all human norms and requirements of the Maritime Labor Convention. With such a workload, if something happens, seafarers do not know the amount of death compensation their relatives may get.

According to Nikolay Sukhanov, FETO SUR Chairman, m/v SDL Maya (Panama flag, IMO 9384784, dwt 3913, 2006 built) is berthed at the Nakhodka commercial port under unloading cargo delivered from Japan. The crew of the vessel consists of 13 seafarers, most of them are Filipinos, including the Captain, with only Chief Officer from Japan. The registered owner of the SDL Maya is a Germany-based company, and the beneficial shipowner, which is responsible for paying wages to seafarers and is financially responsible for them under the MLC 2006, is Shinme Kisen Sangyo KK of Kobe, Japan.

-This is our second visit on board the SDL Maya while it's stay at the port of Nakhodka, and this visit is not accidental: we received a message from ITF stating that the crew has been kept on board for more than 13 months without replacement, and the seafarers ask for help and assistance. - Nikolay Sukhanov explained . – In a statement to the ITF Coordinator in Russia, Sergey Fishov, the seafarers said that they had already applied to the company several times asking for replacement, but each time the company shied away from addressing the seafarers' problems. We informed the Administration of Nakhodka Seaport about this worrisome situation, and as a result, we came to the decision to carry on  a joint inspection of the SDL Maya and assist the crew.

During the inspection, it turned out that nine  crew members have indeed been working on board for more than 14 months, the company forcibly keeps them on board without providing replacements. Besides, the crew told that late payment of wages and non-payment of leave pay in accordance with the contract was the standard practice for the shipowner.

Recall that the first experience of the SUR FETO Inspectors with the m/v SDL Maya was in May 2021 when the vessel called at Nakhodka, and then the situation on board was exactly the same. As it was then, the union inspectors contacted the ITF Coordinator in Japan, Fusao Ohori, who advised the seafarers to organize a strike and not leave the port of Nakhodka until their replacement would be arranged, or to agree with the company's offer to arrange their crew change at the next port of call - the Japanese port of Hitachinaka.

The seafarers decided to agree to crew change in Japan, but they had no strong belief in the company's promise, so they held on board the vessel an action against flags of convenience and asked the SUR FETO representatives to send a notice to the company demanding to sign the ITF collective agreement with the Japanese seafarers' union at the next port of call.

The Nakhodka PSC Officer listened to the crew's opinion and gave permission for the vessel to depart on the condition that the shipowner fulfill his obligations to the crew.

FETO SUR representatives gave the crew members of the SDL Maya books on the rights of seafarers working on FOC ships and the  fresh magazines "Maritime Unions Herald".

At the time of this publication, the SUR has received a message from the company-operator (Japan-based) stating that the crew change will be arranged for 12 crew members at the next port of call - Hitachinaka, and all outstanding wages will be transferred to the crewing agent so that the seafarers can receive their money in full upon arrival in Manila.