Crew addressed a wage debt complaint to SUR

The crew members  of Russian-flagged Danapris-5 (IMO 8887387) and  Danapris-1 (IMO 8889373)  have addressed their appeal about few-months wage arrears to the Seafarers' Union of Russia'  Azov and Don Territorial Organization (SUR ADTO). With   the union's help, the crew succeeded in returning the wage arrears partly, but the most of the sum has not come to them.

Seafarers who applied for help are members of the SUR. Some of them, including the captain and  the chief officer of Danapris-5, have left the  ships' board. They received the back-paid wages partly. The captain received $1,500 of $5,000 and  the  chief officer was paid the half of his arrears - $3,000. Currently on the  board remains the ship's  cook, whom company owes $1,500 of $3,000. At present the union's representatives negotiate with the ship's operator – Rostov-based company Marine Management and the shipowner – Kiev-based KDK Shipping. According to the SUR ADTO chairman Leonid Glushak, the union has to appeal to the port authority in the next  port of call, if the seafarers do not receive the remaining amount of sum. The crew of Danapris-1 was not so lucky – all crew members still remain on  the vessel board and the seafarers have not been paid since 1st February. Total amount  of wage debt here is approximately $50,000.

“There are  no collective agreement on both vessels and this complicates the  situation. We try to gain a conclusion of collective agreement, but  the talks have reached a deadlock,” - Leonid Glushak says. “Danapris-1” now  has come to Astrakhan. If  the shipowner doesn't pay the wage arrears to the crew, a protest action will be hold and the  ship will be  detained. We will make  all legal measures to  the owner of the vessel, including to appeal to the Port Administration of Astrakhan.

Such situation is typical  for vessel not covered by collective agreement. The Seafarers' Union of Russia reminds that the agreement  is necessary because it automatically  means more strict work condition control  on a vessel”.