Assisting seafarers in repatriation

We publish a short list of vessels and crews that have received assistance from the Seafarers Union of Russia (SUR).
All claims arisen from the COVID-19 pandemic situation, resulted in seafarers are restricted from accessing medical care, repatriation, or being banned from leaving the vessels. 

 M/v Clipper Talent (9406085, MHL), Dania Shipmanagement, Denmark
During the stay of vessel at port of Richards Bay, South Africa, the seafarer applied with request for medical care due to cancer of the stomach suspicion. Since the ports of South Africa are closed due to COVID-19 so the permission of the local Ministry of foreign Affairs and the Ministry of transport is required. The SUR had to negotiate with the port authorities along with the Russian diplomats in order to discharge the seafarer from the ship under emergency situation.  Thanks to the joint work of the SUR, the company, the ITF, the South African authorities, the Russian Embassy and South African trade unions, a delivery to the hospital was organized. The seafarer was hospitalized on July 17. 

M/v Arctic Bay (9318034, MLT), Interorient Shipmanagement, Cyprus

The ship was in Malaysia, where shifts are prohibited. The contracts of employment of 4 seafarers have been expired. They refused to renew their contracts and required for repatriation. Thanks to the cooperation of the SUR, the ITF and the company, a decision of repatriation was taken and the shift in Manila was confirmed on July 23-24. 

M/v Bluetune  (9491927, ATG), Mastermind Shipmanagement, Cyprus
The vessel was located in Turkey. The Russian seafarer’s contract ended in April and he needed to be repatriated.  Thanks to the joint efforts of the SUR, the ITF and the company, the repatriation has been confirmed .On July 23, the crewmember returned to Arkhangelsk via Minsk. 

M/v Mainstream (8729676, New Zealand), Independent Fisheries ltd, New Zealand
Nine seafarers requested repatriation due to the completion of their contracts. Thanks to cooperation with the New Zealand maritime union, the decision on repatriation was taken and on July 18, the crew flew home. 

M/v  Khatanga (8610887, RUS), Murmansk Shipping Company, Murmansk
The ship was arrested in Gdynia (Poland). The seafarers remained on board from 7 to 13 months. Three crewmembers asked for payment of wages and repatriation. Thanks to the joint work of the SUR and the company in Murmansk, repatriation was arranged and the seafarers returned home on July 18. 

M/v Navig8 Sirius (9731729, MHL), Cassiopea Shipmanagement Ltd, Cyprus, TB Marine Shipmanagement, Germany
There complaint from the Russian captain and some other crewmembers were received regarding the health condition, their contacts of employment have been expired. Medical assistance and repatriation were required. Thanks to the joint efforts of the SUR, the ITF, the company and the German trade unions, a decision on repatriation was taken and on July 8, the captain returned home. 

M/v Bourbon Liberty 152, (9630092, SGP), Bourbon Greenmar, France
The ship was laid up in the port of Ghana. The contracts of employment of 2 Russian seafarers have been expired and needed to be repatriated. At the same time, the company was going to reduce the salary of seafarer by 28% due to the downtime. Thanks to the joint work of the SUR, the ITF and the French trade union, the repatriation was arranged in early July and the company refused to cut the wage. 

M/v Habrut (9500730, MHL), V Ships Dubai, UAE
 The electrician died on board the ship while she was in Oman. The family requested support from the SUR in obtaining confirmation from the company that it is ready to comply with all contractual obligations for the delivery of the body, compensation and funeral expenses payment. Through the interaction of the SUR with the company, with the support of the ITF, guarantees were obtained and transferred to the family. 

M/v Khasab Silver (9718832, MHL), Oman Shipping Co, Oman
Ch. Officer asked for help in repatriation and change in New Orleans, because the company refused to change him. Through the interaction of the SUR with the company, with the support of the ITF, a reliever was found and the seafarer was repatriated.

 M/v  Monoceros Leader (9832573, PAN), Yusen Navtec Co. ltd., Japan
The crewing agency requested an additional letter of guarantee from the Union stating that the seafarer will be discharged upon the completion of the contract and provided any assistance in the repatriation process. The letter was sent to the seafarer and the company and the crewmember was repatriated. 

M/v VS Riesa (9252592, IOM), V Ships, Monaco
The SUR was advised by the 2nd Eng and Electrician that their contracts of employment have been expired and the company is putting pressure on them in terms of extending contracts. An order was also issued to transfer them to passengers. Thanks to the interaction of the SUR with the company, with the support of the ITF, a solution was found. The contracts were extended to the nearest port of call. The seafarers were replaced in Singapore. 

M/v Remos (7925168, MLT)
The ship was abandoned by the Greek owner in Ghana. The crew was not paid the wage. The Captain died in the hospital, and the contact of employment of the Chief engineer was completed.The crew appealed to the SUR with a request for the repatriation of the Ch. Engineer and the delivery of the captain's body to the homeland.  Thanks to the joint work of the SUR, ITF inspectors in Ghana, Malta and Russia, with the support of the ITF and the P&I club, the Ch. Eng returned home on July 19, and the captain's body was delivered to his homeland. 

M/v Professor Mikhailo Alexandrov (9121118, New Zealand), Sea Lord Group ltd, New Zealand
Appeal of 7 seafarers with a complaint about the problem with repatriation at the end of contracts. The problem was solved through the interaction of the SUR with the New Zealand maritime union, and the crew returned home in mid-July.

M/v Clipper Kythira, (9663116, MHL), Dania Ship Management, Denmark
Appeal of 2 Russian seafarers who needed medical assistance. Thanks to the interaction of the SUR with the company and the ITF, the problem was solved. Assistance to seafarer was provided in South Africa 

M/v Wilson Gijon (9056038, BRB), Wilson Shipmanagment, Norway
 The seafarer was discharged from the ship with a suspected stroke in the port of Tees (Great Britain). Thanks to the interaction of the SUR with the company and the ITF, the seafarer was repatriated and continued medical treatment at home in Arkhangelsk. 

M/v Athens Voyager (9337391, PAN), Thome Shipmanagement. Singapore
The appeal was received from 2 Russian seafarers serving on board the tanker that fell under US sanctions and was abandoned by the company. The vessel was at the anchorage at Sharjah (UAE). Thanks to the appeal of the SUR to the ITF, the Greek seafarers union, to the shipowner and manager, the sanctions were lifted. Thome resumed management and guaranteed payment of wages, repatriation and the crew change in OAE. 

M/v BSL Elsa (9433901, LBR), Zeaborn Ship Management, Germany
While the ship was en route from the South Africa to Singapore 4 Russian seafarers applied for assistance in repatriation due to the completion of the contracts of employment.  One of them urgently needed the medical assistance of a dentist. The company could not change the crew in Singapore because the vessel was not planned to call at the port. The problem was solved through the interaction of the SUR with the company, the ITF, the German and Singapore maritime unions. The seafarers were discharged in the next port of South Korea in early July. 

M/v Ekarma  (9630016, LBR), FEMCO-Management, Russia
A ship that was arrested in Cape Town, South Africa on March 14, 2020 due to the commercial dispute. The appeal from 15 crewmembers was received. Their contract of employment have been expired but due to the sheriff's ban on leaving the ship and due to restrictions related to COVID-19, the crew was not allowed to be repatriated.  By working with the ITF, the South African union, the company and the Russian Embassy, the RMN managed to get the crewmembers back to their homeland. 

M/v Eminence Front (9353802, MHL), V Ships Dubai UAE
The seafarer with a knee injury who has not been able to receive medical care since April applied for assistance. The ship was waiting to enter the port of China. Since China's ports are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was necessary to negotiate with the port authorities to discharge the seafarer from the ship as an exception. Thanks to the cooperation of the SUR with the company, the ITF, the authorities of Qingdao, the Russian Embassy, Hong Kong seafarers unions and global Voyager assistance, the problem was solved. When the vessel was moored, with assistance of the agent the crewmember was taken to the hospital and hospitalized on June 27. 

M/v Chang Jiang (9423906, SGP), Ocean Tankers Management, Singapore
 The ship's captain informed that he remains of board since September 2019 and the company extended the contract four times, referring to COVID-19.  The captain was advised about the rules of the crew change in Singapore, then, through the interaction of the SUR with the Singapore seafarers unions, the ITF and the company, he was repatriated on July 18.