A seafarer from the m/v Sungari complained to the DVRO SUR about non-payment of wages

The Far Eastern regional organization of the Seafarers Union of Russia (DVRO SUR) received an appeal from a crewmember of the m/v Sungari (IMO 9512434, flag of Togo, built in 2010). According to him, all seafarers have not been paid wages for three months. Despite this, the vessels  was planned to depart  from the port of Plastun with a cargo of lumber and roundwood bound to the Chinese port of Tianjin.

– According to seafarer, in addition to non – payment there is another problem-technical deficiences, - said the Chairman of the DVRO SUR  Nikolay Sukhanov. Upon the approach to the port, the fire extinguishing system with the use of CO2 was dismantled as it prevented the installation of racks for timber. The shipowner,Inderton company, promised to restore it during the moorage, but this did not happen, and the departure was planned without it. The seafarers were forbidden to contact the port authorities, threatening any consequences. According to a crewmember, a local inspector of the state port control visited the ship during the moorage, but nothing changed after that.

 Representatives of the DVRO SUR sent appeals to the Administration of seaports of Primorsky Krai and the Eastern Arctic and to the port of Olga with a request to sort out the situation before the ship departs and take the necessary measures if the non-payment of wages and the presence of malfunctions are confirmed.

– This is not the first appeal that the SUR receives from the crewmembers of Inderton vessels, - added Nikolay Sukhanov. – The company was on the" black list " of the Union for systematic non-payments to seafarers for several years, and we have repeatedly recommended to seafarers not get a job with this shipowner due to repeated violations of the rights of seafarers. If our appeal to the administration of seaports has not effectt, we are going to contact the Chinese port authorities.