SUR assisted to sign off

Due to the international nature of shipping, it is considered good form in the maritime trade union community to help crew members, regardless of their nationality.

An Indian crew member from the m/v SSI Victory , which was en route to St. Petersburg, contacted the Seafarers' Union of Russia. He asked for assistance in arranging repatriation at the Russian port, as he needed to sign off from the vessel earlier for family reasons. SUR responded to the request, but it was not possible to repatriate the seafarer from St. Petersburg, since the procedure for obtaining travel documents takes up to three weeks - all this time the bulk carrier had to be in Russian territorial waters.

SUR negotiated with the shipowner to sign off the Indian seafarer from the vessel in Denmark, the next port of call of the m/v SSI Victory after departure from St. Petersburg. As it became known, the seafarer had already been repatriated: since he terminated his employment contract ahead of schedule, he had to pay the travel expenses by himself.

Seafarers' Union of Russia adds that solidarity plays an important role in the merchant fleet. Just like SUR has helped the Indian seafarer, colleagues from fraternal trade unions came to the aid of the Russian seafarers more than once.

Photo – IMO