The crew of the m/v "Vostok" mounts a protest

The crew of the m/v “Vostok” (Togo flag, IMO 8721428) announced an unlimited protest in connection with wage arrears for more than six months. This was announced by the chairman of the Azov-Don Territorial Organization of the Seafarers Union of Russia (SUR) Leonid Glushak. The shipowner in fact did not make any payment to the crew from January 2019 to the present transferring money only for April. As of today the amount of outstanding wage comes to more than $ 71 thousand.

So on August 12 crewmembers held a trade union meeting at which it was decided that they will carry out only a minimum of work related to life support and safety of navigation until the full payment and the discharging of the crew in the port of Rostov-on-Don is done. According to the seafarers the shipowner has repeatedly promised to transfer money but did not fulfill the contractual obligations. Moreover in the past the company used to sign off the crewmembers without the final balance payment. So the crews on board claims for immediate discharging right after the debts are paid.The vessels owned by Blackmed Maritime Ltd remains in the port of Rostov from the June 20 2019 as she was detained by the State Port Control (PSC). The crew consists of 11 people - 10 Russians and one citizen of Ukraine. The vessel is not covered by ITF agreement.

“We fully support the crew’s claims,”- said Leonid Glushak. - The shipowner systematically violates the rights of seafarers by not paying them the well-deserved salary. The company said that it is going to pay off the debts at the earliest possible date. Let’s hope that the protest will really take effect and this time theBlackmed Maritime Ltd. will fulfill the promise.