Checking FOC vessels in the port of Vostochny: WoA, day 1

On the 1st day of the WoA in the Asian-Pacific region, the SUR team visited several FOC vessels in the port of Vostochny.

Nikolay Sukhanov (Chairman of the SUR Far Eastern Organization) says:

«The first vessel visited was m/v “SUNROAD MITOY” (flag of Panama, IMO 9592898, DWT 23,186 T, bulk carrier, built in 2011).

The Owner is Japanese, KYOWA SANSHO Co, Hiroshima.
The vessel arrived from Kamiiso, Hokkaido, and was loading coal again for Kamiiso.
Crew of 18 Filipinos and one Japanese.
The vessel is NOT covered with an ITF CBA.
The Declaration as per the MLC 2006 is in place.
Individual Contracts of Employment are in place.
The Master is paid USD 6,000, while an AB gets USD 700. Meals are for USD 7,5 per day.
The wages are paid in time

We explained to the crew what and what for the ITF and the SUR do and how they work, and distributed ITF magazines (in English). The crew asked some questions about the Seamen’s International Club in Nakhodka, and whether they can visit it and talk to their families using the Skype. We gave our answers, and, also, told them about the recent ASS meeting in Manila, about discussions and decisions made.

 

We invited crewmembers not engaged in evening works/watches to visit the Club; also, they could use the Club bus to visit shops, cafes and etc. in the city center.

Since the vessel is not covered with an ITF CBA, it was decided to send a corresponding Notice to the owner. Also, the crew took part in a picket at the vessel’s stern.

The second vessel was m/v “ORIENT ACE” (bulk carrier, flag of Singapore, IMO 9228241; built in 2000; DWT 19,092 T.

 

The Owner is Japanese - the SHINKEN BUSSAN CO. LTD. (Tokyo)).
Crew of 18, all Filipinos.
The vessel is NOT covered with an ITF CBA.
The Declaration as per the MLC 2006 is in place.
Individual Contracts of Employment are in place.
The Master is paid USD 5,700; an AB gets USD 1,000. Meals are for USD 5,5 per day.
The vessel arrived from Taizhou, China, and was loading coal for the port of Miki, Japan.

Again, we informed the crew of the recent ASS meeting in Manila, and distributed newspapers from Manila, and ITF magazines in English. During our discussions in the mess room, we also explained them about the International Seamen’s Club in Nakhodka, and invited them to visit it.

Again, as the vessel is not covered with an ITF CBA, it was decided to send a corresponding Notice to the owner. Also, the crew took part in a picket at the vessel’s stern against FOCs.

In fact, there is a CBA but it is signed by a non-affiliated union.

The third vessel visited was m/v “SEA FUTURE” (bulker, flag of Marshall Islands, IMO 9317810, built in 2006; DWT 87,144 T)

 

Owner: SW SHIPPING CO. LTD., Seoul, South Korea.
The vessel arrived from Boryeong (Daecheon), S.Korea, and was loading coal for the same port.
Crew of 19 Myanmar and 2 Korean seafarers.
The vessel is NOT covered with an ITF CBA.
The Declaration as per the MLC 2006 is in place.
Individual Contracts of Employment are in place.
The Master is paid USD 8,000; an AB gets USD 1,300. Meals are for USD 10 per day.

Here, too, we informed the crew of the recent ASS meeting in Manila, and distributed newspapers from Manila, and ITF magazines in English. Also, we explained how maritime trade unions protect seafarers’ interests.

Since the vessel is not covered with an ITF CBA, it was decided to send a corresponding Notice to the owner.  Also, we invited the crew to the International Seamen’s Club.

The fourth vessel was m/v “ATAYAL ACE” (bulk carrier, flag of Panama, IMO 9643611; DWT 16,805 T; built in 2013).

 

Owner: WISDOM MARITIME LINES, Taipei, Taiwan.
Crew of  20, all Vietnamese.
CBA is in place (signed by the Taiwanese NCSU.
Master is paid USD 5,700 and an AB gets USD 1,000. Meals are for USD 6,5 per day.

We told the crew about the work of the ITF and handed out ITF printed materials; also, the crewmembers were invited to visit the Nakhodka International Seamen’s Club and answered their questions.

Thus, we have to point out that out of FOUT visited vessels, THREE were not covered with ITF CBAs, and we will send notices strongly urging the Owners to sign proper CBAs before leaving the port. We will submit to the Masters draft ITF CBAs so that they could sign them upon receiving approval from the respective Shipowners.

At the same time, we have to note that there were no claims for working conditions or wages payments».