Russians have ended up on board a damaged vessel

The Kaliningrad Territorial Organization of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia received a statement from three crew members of the MV  Sheksna (IMO 8876572, Tanzanian flag) asking to assist them to sign off from the vessel. They joined the vessel at the end of August, but decided to give up the tempting prospects of working on board this vessel and wrote requests on signing off. The seafarers were even ready to pay for return tickets themselves, but they were denied without explanation.

According to Lyudmila Izmalkova, Chairperson of the Kaliningrad Territorial Organization of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia (KTO SUR), the vessel is currently operated in an emergency state: Inmarsat system is disabled, there are breaches in decks, diesel generators, rescue equipment and the fire extinguishing system do not work. The other day, the refrigeration unit also has failed.

The vessel has gained notoriety not just for its poor technical condition: its crew members  complain regularly about the refusal of compensation for injuries, delays and non-payment of wages. And this is despite the fact that, according to KTO SUR, the  salary level and the amount of compensations on board  MV Sheksna are below average. For example, an AB Seaman earns just  $1,300, and the maximum compensation for loss of health is just $20,000. By comparison, when working under a standard collective agreement, an AB Seaman would earn   USD1,800, and the insured amount in case of seafarers' death on board would be  USD110,000.

The Kaliningrad Territorial Organization of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia notes that the crew members have already contacted the Russian Consulate in Algeria.

KTO SUR is going to seek help from the port authorities of Oran (Algeria), where the vessel is currently heading, as well as from colleagues from the maritime trade unions of Algeria and Lithuania. The shipowner company is based in the latter.

Based on materials from KTO SUR; photo from the vessel — provided to the KTO SUR