The SUR sent a notice to the shipowner of m/v Ocean Autumn

The reason was the absence of a collective agreement of the International Transport Workers' Federation on board and  low salaries of the crew, consisting entirely of Vietnamese seafarers. As the Inspectors of the Far Eastern Territorial Organization of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia (FETO SUR) found out today when visiting the m/v Ocean Autumn (Panama flag, IMO 9379052, dwt 41340, 2009-built), the salary of the AB Seaman is  USD935 (basic wage was USD489),  the salary of the  captain is USD6338.

-The Panamanian flag on board the vessel means that Vietnamese legislation does not apply on board, and, most likely, in case of injury or death of a crew member, neither he nor his family will receive any compensation, - Nikolay Sukhanov, FETO SUR Chairman explains. -We told this to the captain of the m/v Ocean Autumn and the crew: as a rule, flag of convenience registers do not enforce minimum social standards, and deny seafarers basic human rights and trade union rights. That is why the International Transport Workers' Federation has been fighting flags of convenience for decades. The worldwide network of ITF  Inspectors  allows for the prompt investigation of cases related to FOC vessels and to  reform abuses against seafarers. The latter primarily include extremely low wages, poor living conditions on board, long working hours without sufficient rest periods, which leads to stress and fatigue, the need to take care of oneself and rely on charity.

When the seafarers learned from the Union representatives what their wages would be if there had been an ITF collective agreement on board (the salary of the AB Seaman would be $1,836 and the insurance amount in case of a crew member's death would be  $110,000), the crew of the Ocean Autumn asked to send a notice to the Vietnamese shipowner demanding to  immediately conclude such agreement. To confirm their strong commitment, the seafarers took an active part in the action against  flags of convenience on the stern of the vessel.

SUR FETO representatives congratulated the seafarers on the past International Day of the Seafarer, and a little later sent a notice with requirement to sign a collective agreement to the registered shipowner (which is also the operator and the beneficial shipowner) – Vietnamese company Hung Phat Maritime Trading Company.

The FETO SUR representatives gave the crew of the m/v Ocean Autumn  books in English on the rights of seafarers working under flags of convenience, as well as the latest issues of the “Maritime Unions  Herald” magazine, which contain information about the activities of the SUR and the ITF. Besides, they told the crew about the outcomes of the 37th Summit of Asia-Pacific region maritime trade unions'  leaders, which took place from 11 to 15 of April 2023 in Tokyo. And within the framework of the Summit, the SUR representatives held  a working meeting with the President of the Seamen's union of Vietnam and agreed on rendering assistance to Vietnamese seafarers calling to Russian ports.

The FETO SUR representatives invited the crew to visit the International Marine Club in Nakhodka in their spare time, there is a free bus, which can transfer the seafarers to the Club at the request of a captain.