Thanks to the SUR, injured sailors have got $800,000 US in five years

The Technical Inspection of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia (SUR) is engaged in the protection of interests of seafarers in the field of labour protection. At present, eight technical inspectors are engaged in the work of the SUR Labor Technical Inspections. It is thanks to their efforts that injured sailors and families of those died in service have been paid more than $800,000US in the five years, 2011 to 2016, according to the outcome of investigations.

During the above period, the SUR activists and Labor Technical Inspectors participated in the investigation of 60 accidents with union member seafarers. In the course of investigation the SUR representatives acted clearly in line with the protection of seafarers and the interests of partner ship owners. When investiga­ting injuries, the SUR representatives were putting forward and justifying their position thus resulting in wages having been paid to the seafarers.

The Technical Inspectors participated in the Weeks of Actions Against Flags of Convenience Vessels. Together with the ITF colleagues the SUR Technical Inspectors have checked the conditions and wages of seafarers on 600 vessels. Much attention is paid to the monitoring of the labour conditions of young seafa­rers, the work of the Vessels’ Committees for Labour Protection (under the flag of Russia) and the Vessels’ Committees for Labour Safety and Health Protection (flags of convenience vessels).

The Technical Inspection is involved in improvement of the working conditions of seafarers not only on the vessels, but on the government level as well. In 2014, the SUR experts were actively involved in the work of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection’s Commission 1 established to elaborate the Specifi­ci­ties of Conducting of Working Conditions Special Evaluation Study on Workplace of Seafarers Sailing on Sea-Going, Inland and Fishing Vessels (hereinafter referred to as the “Specificities”). Most of the proposals of the SUR experts on professional standards in marine industry have been adopted by developers. In May 2015, the Specificities were approved by the 201n Order.

Working Conditions Special Evaluation Study (SOUT) was held on 85 vessels of the Russian companies with the participation of the SUR representatives. Upon the request of Technical Inspectors, Igor Kozmin and Igor Kholyavka, eight vessels were subject to the new SOUT as according to the previous SOUTs the vessels crews’ working conditions had been classified as “acceptable” which equated seafarers with office employees. After a repeat SOUT, the working conditions class was changed to not less than 3.1. which corresponds to harmful wor­king conditions. As a result, the seafarers were able to confirm their right to benefits in connection with harmful working conditions.

In 2014, Regulations on Labor Protection on Sea-Going and Inland Vessels (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations”) were adopted with the SUR’s financial support. Technical Inspectors and the staff of the SUR’s head office took active part in developing and amending of the Regulations. In the course of work, 412 remarks to the Regulations were proposed by the SUR with 98 of them having been approved.

The Chairpersons and Labour Technical Inspectors of the SUR’s Territorial Organisations regularly participate in seminars and meetings for senior officers in Saint-Petersburg, Novorossiysk, Vladivostok, and Kaliningrad held by the ship owners, such as the SCF Group and Eagle. During these seminars and meetings, the seafarers are being familiarized with modern regulations introduced to set up the safe work of seafarers. In addition, the SUR Technical Inspectors take part in the work of shipping companies’ commissions for verification of officers’ knowledge and certification of working conditions in the workplace of crew members. The SUR Chief Labour Technical Inspector Yevgeny Khizhnyak, takes part in the work of the Maritime Qualification Commission of the Baltic States Marine Ports Authorities to verify labour safety knowledge obtained by masters, chief mates and chief engineers. In June 2016, a SUR representative attended the All-Russia Meeting on Safety on Vessels and Enterprises of Merchant Marine and Fishery Fleet held by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Russia.

The Technical Inspectors provide pre-trip instruction courses for the crews of the SCF Group vessels. The seafarers are constantly reminded of the requirements of current national and international regulations on labour protection. A healthy behaviour on board the vessel and ashore is being advocated for. The SUR has replicated and disseminated to vessels a video, Fighting for Better Seas – the ITF’s FOC Campaign, released by the ITF in eight different languages, including Russian.

The Labour Technical Inspectors promptly advise the seafarers and their families on various issues not only on board the vessels, but also in offices, by phone and email. In their work, the Labour Technical Inspectors acquire assistance from the leading experts of the SUR head office, colleague ITF inspectors in Russia, legal professionals from regional organisations. The work for the benefit of seafarers is carried out in conjunction with other SUR specialists.