The crew of the bulk carrier "Prestige D" is not protected by the ITF collective bargaining agreement

Inspectors of the Far Eastern Territorial Organization of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia (FETO SUR) visited Prestige D, berthed at the new coal terminal in the port of Vostochny under the  loading coal, destined to Vietnam.

The vessel (2011- built) is flying the flag of Liberia (IMO 9591583), its registered owner is Prestige D Shipping Ltd from the Marshall Islands, the operator, who is also the shipowner, signed the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance - Part II, is the Estonian company Klip Marine Shipmanagement Ltd. The crew includes a Captain from Estonia, a Chief Officer, a Chief Engineer, a 2nd Engineer,  an Electrician from Russia, the remaining 17 seafarers  are from Burma.

Andrey Tsygankov, the captain of the bulk carrier, told the SUR representatives that the previous shipowner was a Japanese company, the crew consisted of Filipino seafarers and  there was the collective bargaining  agreement of the International Transport Workers' Federation  in place. The crew change took place in Taiwan on 26th of June.

- During our visit on board the vessel we found out  the Captain was from Tallinn, the Chief Officer was from Novorossiysk, the Chief Engineer was from Arkhangelsk, the 2nd Engineer - from Nizhny Novgorod, and the Electrician - from Astrakhan, - Nikolay Sukhanov, FETO SUR Chairman, said. – The basic rate of the AB Seaman from Burma was USD600, the salary of the Captain was USD9,500. The amount of insurance compensation to relatives in case of a seafarer's death was unknown. The Estonian shipowner, who clearly wants to save money on seafarers' wages, chose the convenient flag of Liberia, since the first edition of the Maritime Code of this country, the draft of which was brought to Monrovia from the USA, did not contain any provisions at all regarding the inspection or control of the Liberian authorities over the technical condition of vessels registered under the country's flag. The Code also did not contain any mention of the working hours of crew members, annual paid leaves, minimum wages and other working conditions for seafarers.

“The Captain informed us that he supported the ITF's policy against flags of convenience  and agreed to hold a protest action against flags of convenience on board the vessel and to send a notice to the company demanding an immediate conclusion of a collective agreement with the ITF,” - Nikolay Sukhanov said.

 The FETO SUR representatives handed over to the crew of the "Prestige D"   books on the rights of seafarers working under flags of convenience, as well as the latest issues of the “Maritime Unions  Herald” magazine. Also, they answered all seafarers'  pressing questions, mainly related to wage amount on board FOC ships and the labor rights the crews of such vessels have.

The crew of the m/v "Prestige D" supported the union's initiative to send a notice to the company demanding the immediate signing of the ITF collective agreement and held an action against flags of convenience on board the bulk carrier.