Season Greetings! Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Dear friends, colleagues, brothers and sisters! Personally and on behalf of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia I have a pleasure to congratulate you with the New Year and Holy Christmas, and give my best wishes to you!

The year 2017 gave us a lot of problems but, thanks to your support, we overcame them with honor and dignity. A lot was done for protection of the rights of the Union members: we sought to increase wages and save jobs, we protected the national labour market, signed collective agreements with shipping companies, and we fought for safe and fair working conditions. A clear proof of this is the amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention thanks to which crews in any situation can count on repatriation and payment of compensations, and signing the Maritime Transport Industry Federal Agreement which will in future help to protect the interests of our seafarers who work on vessels flying the national flag of Russia.

What will be the year 2018 – it depends on our perseverance, strength of spirit and desire to live and work in better conditions. The SUR will on its part make every effort to ensure that the seafarers keep confidence in future.

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank you for your fidelity to the strong seafarers’ brotherhood, because the future successes of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia directly depend on the unity and our cohesion with you. I do hope that you will listen to the New Year Kremlin chimes in the circle of people who are close and dear to you, whether family or true friends from your crew. I wish you happiness, prosperity and fulfillment of your cherished desires. The tail wind to you and seven feet under the keel!

Yury Sukhorukov, SUR President