14.06.2022

The crew of the m/v Golden Atlantic is paid peanuts

Inspectors of the Far Eastern Territorial Organization of the Seafarers Union of Russia visited the m/v Golden Atlantic (flag Panama, IMO 9187954), which was moored at the commercial seaport of Nakhodka under coal loading bound for Indian port of Paradip. The vessel is not covered by the ITF collective agreement so the base rate of an AB is only $ 360, and the full salary is about $ 700 dollars.

As per international standards, the captain is also content with pennies, receiving only $2,500. According to Nikolay Sukhanov, Chairman of the FETO SUR, the owner of the vessel is Azia Pacific Shipping Co Ltd (Vietnam), which is financially responsible for employees, as required by the Maritime Labor Convention. In total, there are 21 crewmembers on board: 19 Vietnamese and cadets from India.

«The crew welcomed us very warmly on board. At the first request, the captain showed us the documents. Seafarers have individual contracts. They indicate that insurance in case of death of rating is $ 40 000. Meals are organized for $8 per day for each seafarer», - N. Sukhanov continued.

Representatives of the Seafarers Union of Russia explained to the crewmembers that they work on a ship under the flag of convenience. «The Vietnamese shipowner deliberately chose a convenient flag in order to save on the seafarers' salary and avoid taxes. The flag of Panama serves as a legal fact that allows the national law of the flag country to be applied to the legal relations arising on board. Since the flag of the vessel is proof of its belonging to a certain state, the national legislation of the seafarer cannot be applied to labor relations between him and the employer, therefore it is not able to protect seafarers on a ship under a flag of convenience», – says N. Sukhanov.

The Chairman of the FETO SUR noted that the ITF has established a minimum wage for an AB on vessels under flags of convenience of at least $ 1800 and insurance payments in the event of the death of a seafarer – at least $ 110000. «The ITF is seeking collective agreements from shipowners to protect seafarers regardless of skin color, nationality, gender, race or religion, » he added.

The crew of the m/v Golden Atlantic asked the FETO SUR to send a notice to the shipowner with a proposal to conclude a collective agreement with the trade union and took part in an action to combat the flag of convenience on the stern of the vessel. Before leaving, the inspectors of the FETO SUR left on board the books on the rights of seafarers working on ships under convenient flags, calendars and magazines Maritime Union Gerald, in which, among other things, you can read about the activities of the SUR and the ITF.



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