NIKOLAI SUKHANOV: “THE SEAFARER'S NATIONALITY DOESN'T MATTER”

The Seafarers Union of Russia (SUR)  participates in the international fight for seafarers' right, that’s why Russian and foreign  seafarers can receive help at the SUR. We talk about not only ITF inspectors at the Russian ports, but the regional and territorial organizations of the union. The   good example is the recent case with the Syrian crew of “Antoine”, who appealed for  help to return the salary debts.

On the 12^th of August,  2016, three crew members of  the MV “Antoine” (Malta flag; IMO 9118329) asked for the union's Far Eastern Regional Organization (FERO) to help  in returning their wages for  the six months  and their repatriation to Syria.  In Moscow, The Syrian  Embassy advised the crew of “Antoine”  to receive assistance at the SUR Far Eastern Regional  Organization. The seafarers received there  necessary information to contact with the regional organization.

 After received  the claim, the representatives of the regional  organization passed this information to the Port State Control and then  decided  to make a joint inspection  after the berthing  of  the  “Antoine” at the port. Besides, the PSC and the union agreed to detain the ship if  information would be confirmed. The union made a contact with the ship's agent at the Port of Nakhodka, and asked to  notify a shipowner about possible detention of the ship  if the wages would not paid back. With the aim of the broader highlighting  of the problem, the chairman of the SUR Far Eastern Regional Organization Nikolai Sukhanov have informed the Russian media sources. “Antoine” came from the  Port of Nanjing, China,  and berthed at the Port of Nakhodka on the 15^th of August. The inspectors visited the ship on the next day. According to its Certificate of MLC Compliance, checked out by the inspectors, the owner of “Antoine” was the Greek company “Chekka Shipping SA”. In addition, between  the crew of “Antoine”, included 2 Libyans and 19 Syrians, and the Maltese company “Faray Navigation Ltd.”, acted on the behalf of the shipowner, have been signed the individual agreements.

 According the agreements, the crew should receive the wages by cash  every month on the board of the ship or money should be transferred to their  families, in Syria and Libya. The seafarers explained that the military operations at the region led to that the wages couldn't be transferred to the Syrian banks, from which money delivered to the families of the Syrian seafarers. However the ship's captain  didn't pass  the payroll to the crew and the seafarers  didn't know when and what part of the salaries were transferred to the families.

“Most of the crew, except of 3 seafarers,  have confirmed the receiving money by their  relatives. These 3 crew members have reported that the shipowner didn't pay them about USD13350” - said the chairman of the SUR FERO.

The unpaid wages of AB Abdel Karim Salman and AB Mohamed Suleyman  were USD4550 and USD1800 respectively. The debt to the ship's cook Khalidu Glavenji was USD7000. The representative of “Chekka Shipping” Christine Glick supposed that “ their accounts were frozen and it couldn't able to transfer money. Glick  added  “more likely the company  would transfer money on  their  other accounts”. Along with the wage payment requirement, the crew called for  a repatriation to Syria.

“By the time the captain and the ship's agent explained that  their repatriation from Russia to Syria was impossible due to  time required to  obtain visas. After discussions with the seafarers we came to conclusion if the company had compensated the wage debt during the ship's berthing at Nakhodka, they would be sent home at the next port of arrival in South Korea” - said Nikolai Sukhanov. “They were notified that all breaches found during the inspection on the 16^th of August, would be checked out before the ship's departure”.

In spite of taken measures, two AB-seafarers had left the ship before their requirements have been satisfied. The ship's cook stayed on the board, refused to take part at the strike and continued to exercise his responsibilities. But on the 18^th of August there was information that all three seafarers left the ship in the hope to make success in their repatriation from Russia to homeland.

There were being held multiple negotiations with the strike participants, they were asked to back on the board and waited for paying wages, but all negotiations  failed. At the same time the crew kept  in touch with the Syrian Embassy in Moscow.

“The shore leave of the seafarers was limited by the territory of the Port of Nakhodka cause of their passports were kept on the board under the captain's control” - underlined Nikolai Sukhanov. “Taking into account the situation, the agent of the ship urgently got down to work over the question of returning unpaid wages and completing   the necessary documents for seafarers repatriation to Syria.

On the 19^th of August all required  money for three crew members have been delivered on the board. But  the strikers informed that they  would receive money along with the flight tickets and documents required for their repatriation.

“The procedure of passing money and  documents were being hold at the  presence of the SUR representatives” - says the chairman of the SUR FERO. “We passed all receipts for money received  and flight tickets to the  PSC inspector A. Shevarkov for the  further  proceeding of the ship's departure  from Nakhodka”.

While “Antoine” successfully left  the Port of Nakhodka  on the 24^th of August as scheduled,  two AB-seafarers and the cook have been sent to the hotel for waiting their departure. Thanks to help of the union's representatives wages have been received by not only the three crew members who asked for assistance in the returning unpaid wages, but the other members of the ship. The total amount of returned wages was approximately USD150000. The seafarers expressed their gratitude for help to all who took part in addressing their problem.

“The assistance of the Seafarers' Union of Russia  consists in representing interests of  foreign crews in our country. The organization gives all-required support, demonstrating its solidarity in the fighting for protecting legal rights of the seafarers regardless their  nationality”   - said Nikolai Sukhanov. – “The case of “Antoine”  made clear harmful influence the  flags of convenience  on the seafarers and the shipping industry. In the face of adopting Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and receiving  the Certificates of MLC Compliance by the shipowners, most of  them continue to violate seafarers' rights, not pay wages and break shipowners' commitments for their repatriation”.

The only guarantee of seafarers rights' protection is to conclude a collective agreement with national union. And the statements some of shipowners about uselessness of  the collective agreement  clearly show their unwillingness follow to requirements of international conventions. The Seafarers' Union of Russia ready to make all efforts and protect the rights not only Russian, but foreign seafarers, and demonstrate solidarity  with the maritime industry workers around the world.