SUR have visited MV «Iman»

Recently the representatives of the SUR's Far East Regional Organization have visited MV «Iman» (Togo flag; IMO8513390). «Iman» called at the Port of Nakhodka for unloading of custom equipment cargo and loading on its board the timber cargo and then heading on to the ports of Japan. Foremost the union activists wanted to know how the shipowner follows the new amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) maintaining financial guarantees on repatriation and compensation payments. Also the union representatives wanted to know about possible wage arrears to employees.

«From 2015 to 2016 the crew of “Iman” several times requested to the Seafarers' Union of Russia (SUR) for help in returning their wage arrears. Getting information about the ship's arrival at the Port of Nakhodka, we decided to meet with its crew and personally to make sure in receiving salaries by them in time. For once the crew had no complaints», the chairman of the SUR's Far East Regional Organization (SUR FARO) Nikolai Sukhanov told. «It is worth noting that on the “Iman” the captain's wage is $2,354 and the seaman is $785. On the Palau-flagged “Lucky Star 8”, which were recently visited by the union's representatives, the captain's salary is $6,000 and the seaman is $1,500 for comparison. The difference is significant, isn't it?».

Yuri Khilo, the captain of «Iman», represented to the SUR's inspectors the seafarers' insurance certificates against death and injuries. But he couldn't point out concrete sum of insurance covering each member of the crew.

«During inspection of insurance documents we see different sums ranging from Rub10,000 to $10,000. It's the approximate value of Russian seafarer life on the ship under convenient flag», Sukhanov said.

There is a certificate of repatriation and compensation insurance on the board of «Iman» which meets the new MLC requirements. The union's representatives had gotten into the direct touch with the insurance company based in London and its staff have confirmed the document authenticity. Significantly, the insurance company makes payments according to the contracts and collective agreements if there are any.

«There are no concrete insurance sums in personal contracts and crew members nothing to know about it. It's needed on the stage of employment to receive information about insurance availability, its value and condition of payment. To be secured in full, seafarers should become members of the SUR. The Seafarers' Union of Russia can protect their rights in any unforeseen situation», the chairman of the SUR FARO says.