Union Representatives in Vladivostok helped a Romanian seaman to sign off

Recently the Primary Trade Union Organization of Seafarers in Vladivostok  received an appeal from a colleague from Romania asking for help to repatriate the Chief engineer from the vessel Golden Zhejiang (IMO 9443619, Liberian flag). The seafarer was tormented by a severe toothache so it was urgent to deliver him to the dentist in the nearest port. The vessel was heading to China where it was planned to be put into repair for several months.

Singapore-based Seateam Management has verified all crew member repatriation costs. With the support of the shipowner, the trade union committee immediately contacted the Nafta Vostok agency which was supposed to deal with the visa issue. In  general  it took three days to arrange a visa. It also took a lot of time to get a pass to the pier. Despite this, on February 19, the agent managed to pick up the crewmember from the ship and take him to the hotel and to the dentist. The next day the crewmember was scheduled to fly home to Romania.

"It should be recognized that the repatriation of foreign seafarers from the Russian port is always a difficult matter," said Petr Osichansky, chairman of the   Primary trade union organization of the seafarers of the Seafarers Union of Russia in  Vladivostok . Therefore, only the coherence of the efforts of all participants can lead to the desired result. At the same time seafarers should remember that a union can help coordinate joint actions."