Seafarers say thanks to the to SUR

April 2, 2013, the Court of Kirovski District, Makhachkala city, made a decision on a claim of “Nefterudovoz-10M” crew members, who put a claim against their ship-owner, “Samara Shipping Agency ” for non-payment of the wages. Information on the Court’s decision in favour of the seafarers was provided by the Master of the oil-and-ore carrier, Mr.Dmitry Kryuchkov.

According to the captain, however, this can’t be called a total victory after a long struggle with an unfair ship-owner.

“This decision was made now while we turned to the Court in January, says Mr.Kryuchkov. According to the court’s decision we are to be paid 2,5 million rubles. But since our first claim was registered we have been maintaining the vessel and were living aboard. According to the law we have the right to be compensated for these two months. That is why we are going to file another claim”.

A total sum of the ship-owner’s debt is about 4 million rubles now, according to the crew.

What makes the situation even worse is the lack of water and food on board the vessel. The shipowner stopped to provide the crew with products after seafarers appealed to court with a claim of their labour rights violation. In fact what they had when this article was written, was a cardboard of milk, one loaf of bread and some canned food. The crew members have to limit themselves to sandwiches and tea.

“They want us leave the vessel but, fortunately, we get financial and legal support from the Seafarers’ Union of Russia”,- says Dmitry Kryuchkov.

On January 22, 2013, in Makhachkala, crew members of “Nefterudovoz-10M” stopped working because of 4-months wage arrears, and applied to SUR for support. On receiving the application, Mr.Igor Kovalchuk, SUR Vice President, immediately went to Makhachkala to meet the seafarers.

He recommended the crew to appeal to Labour Inspection and to the court. But the ship-owner did his best to slow down the court hearings, and tried to expel the crew from the ship by providing no food.

In early March, the SUR purchased 3 tons of fuel for “Nefterudovoz-10M” and started raising funds for the crew.

Meanwhile, the shipowner tried to prolong the legal process. As a result, the court made its decision only on March 25, 2013. It was ordered by the Court to arrest the vessel as a security of the maritime claim.

The SUR points out the fact that this was the first case in the history of Dagestan justice when the vessel was arrested pursuant to a demand of the crew.