Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!

Dear friends and colleagues,

I congratulate you and your loved ones on the upcoming holidays - New Year and Merry Christmas - on behalf of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia and on my own behalf! 

Much happened over the outgoing year: in part, it was challenging  and unpredictable. Due to the ongoing pandemic, many seafarers still face difficulties in crossing borders and their rotations are not always easy and timely. All this time, the  Seafarers’ Union of Russia keeps supporting the maritime workers and assisting in addressing the challenges emerging on the ground.

At the same time, despite the difficulties, the outgoing year has become eventful and interesting. We celebrated the 30th anniversary of the SUR and held our IX Congress, did a lot to protect the rights of trade union members: we concluded  new collective agreements with shipping companies which guarantee seafarers decent wages, safe workplaces and fair working conditions. I hope that good and kind things will be best remembered by all of us. Let's take all the best from the outgoing year and enter the coming year with optimism and confidence.

Wherever you are - at home or at sea, may 2022 bring you  bright and interesting  moments in life, let it be profuse in big  achievements and let it show you new ways for professional and spiritual development. For our part, we will continue to do everything possible to ensure  the seafarers’ work is secured and adequately paid, so that every maritime worker can calmly and happily perform his duties without thinking about adversity.

Please accept my sincere congratulations on the upcoming New Year and Merry Christmas - these holidays are always associated with the expectation of bright changes, the fulfillment of cherished desires, Faith, Hope and Love. Let the  family hearth always warms you and wrap with tranquility. Good health, prosperity and simple human happiness - to you and your loved ones!

SUR Chairman Yury Sukhorukov