Thanks to the Union the crew members from m/v Saoshyant were paid back debts

In recent months the SUR Primary Organization of Vladivostok has repeatedly received complaints from m/v Saoshyant (IMO 9014119, flag of Panama). The first complaint was received back in May: eight Russian crew members reported that the ship was in emergency  technical condition and was a hazard to life of the crew. In addition, the shipowner - Awat Hama Ali Cargo Services (UAE) owed them over $35,000.

-Having learned about this, we got in touch with the company, which immediately provided a letter of guarantee confirming the payment of wages, -  Petr Osichansky, Chairman of the SUR Primary Organization of Vladivostok said. –  The vessel was scheduled to call at  Vladivostok, so we sent a letter to the Harbor Master with a request to organize a detailed inspection. As a result, on May 29, the crew confirmed that they had received their money in full -  $35,371.

Soon, on June 24, the Primary Organization received another complaint from the m/v Saoshyant . This time an Indian cadet Amanider Singh approached to the Union for help. He indicated that he had been hired on the vessel in an AB Seaman position  in October 2021, but then he was reassigned  to a cadet position which was   an unpaid one. The seafarer provided the Union  his employment contracts: according to the first contract his salary was $150, and according to the  second one he was supposed to work for free. After examining the documents, the trade union committee sent a letter to the  Harbor Master of port Vladivostok, where the ship was scheduled to call soon, with a request to check the information and take action.

-Besides the Indian seafarer we were also approached by Nigerian cadets who were working on board the m/v Saoshyant for half a year, -  Petr Osichansky said. - In relation to those appeals the fines from RUB2000 to RUB5000 were imposed, because the seafarers  had neither seaman’s books nor seafarers  identity documents. The crew members wanted to sign off from the vessel, but it was impossible to issue them a visa without the documents. However, the Harbor Master along with the agent took control of the situation.

On July 19, during the next call of the vessel at Vladivostok, the agent confirmed that  Panamian seafarer’s certificates are ready. The Indian cadet and 10 other Indian and Nigerian crew members were repatriated. 

Jn July, 21, the SUR Primary Organization of Vladivostok  received a letter from Amanider Singh, who got $697 owed to him by the company after the Union had intervened. He thanked the Union  for the immediate response to the request for help and the timely measures taken.

The SUR notes that, unfortunately, violations of seafarers’ rights are still wide spread in shipping. The trade union, for its part, is doing everything possible to ensure that any questionable situations are always resolved in favor of the crew members.

Source: sur-vl.ru