06.12.2021

"Most of the questions were about life in the face of pandemic"

Legal advice for the members of the  Seafarers’ Union of Russia remains an essential component  of social services provided for maritime workers. According to outcomes of the Legal Service of the SUR Southern Territorial Organization (UTO) more than 200 people – seafarers  and their family members – sought for qualified advice  in 2021.

- The current year, like the previous one, was distinguished by the format of communication:  people contact us mainly by phone or e-mail due to quarantine restrictions - said Vadim Kulebyakin, the SUR UTO Chief Legal Expert.

- Another feature was the topic of consultations - most of them concerned signing-off during a pandemic.

Everyday issues emerged to be another serious block of inquiries. “Due to the nature of their work, seafarers are cut off from everyday problems,” the lawyer added . - Therefore, many of them contact us upon their  return  from the voyage to consult on issues related  inheritance of property, divorce proceedings, repayment of loans. For example, we had such case:  a spouse of one seafarer took a lot of credits while he was on the voyage. He asked us how to act correctly in such  situation. "

Experts note: during the pandemic seafarers and their families have become  more concerned about  issue of loan payments. The lawyer Irina Apanovich told about another case: “The widow of the captain who died  in a foreign port asked for advice. He had left a family with two minor children and several loans. She wanted to know if she was obliged to continue paying the debt or if it was an insured event. "

We add that a practicing lawyer also is available at the SUR UTO office on Wednesdays. Any legal assistance to the Union  members is provided free of charge.

Based on materials from SUR UTO 


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