A trade union will help defend the rights of seafarers

Today, Inspectors of the Far Eastern Regional Organization of the Seafarers' Union of Russia have visited the bulk carrier Tatev, berthed at the port of Nakhodka under a coal loading. The vessel flies the Panamanian flag, its crew consists of 20 Russian seafarers recruited through a Vladivostok-based crewing company. The inspection has revealed that the working conditions on board do not meet international standards. 

— During the inspection, it turned out that the crew's employment contracts were not signed on behalf of the genuine shipowner, a Dubai-based Ava Inv DMCC. Instead, they were signed through intermediaries: the Armenian company Alpha Shipping LLC and Vladivostok-based Universal Crew Services LLC. This is a direct violation of the requirements of the Maritime Labor Convention, — Nikolay Sukhanov, Chair of Far Eastern Regional Organization of the Seafarers' Union of Russia, said. 

The captain of the bulk carrier explained to SUR Inspectors that the ship's documents had not yet been arranged properly since the company had recently purchased it in Singapore. 

- Apparently, they didn't get around to salaries and compensation either, - Sukhanov added. - MV Tatev is flying a flag of convenience, so an AB Seaman should receive USD1,836 per month according to the contract, but in fact, he is paid just USD1,700. 

The inspectors told the crew that maritime unions fight the flags of convenience system and put forward uniform mandatory requirements to shipowners using such flags. "An AB Seaman should receive at least USD1,836, and the insured amount in case of seafarers' death should be at least USD110,000," - Nikolay Sukhanov emphasized.

He noted that the amount of compensation in the event of the death of a crew member raised most of the questions. For example, if a seafarer dies as a result of a workplace accident, his family will receive only USD15,000. If death occurs due to illness or other reasons, there are no compensations to family at all. 

"Marine trade unions believe that shipowners are obliged to insure the life and health of crew members, and the minimum insured amount in case of seafarers' death should be at least USD110,000," the Chairman of the Far Eastern Regional Organization of the Seafarers' Union of Russia said. 

Besides, the Inspectors revealed a shortage of food on board – the provisions must be replenished before the ship's departure. During the conversation, the seafarers admitted that it is difficult to defend their rights before the shipowners without the support of the union. Therefore, the representatives of the Seafarers' Union of Russia offered the crew to join the trade union. 

- Membership in the Seafarers' Union of Russia provides legal protection, assistance in negotiations with employers, supervision over working conditions, - Nikolay Sukhanov added. 

At the end of the meeting, the crew requested that SUR send the shipowner a demand to conclude a collective agreement, which would be an important step to improve their situation on board.