Thanks to the joint efforts of the Transport Prosecutor's Office and SUR, seafarers received their delayed salary

Yesterday, the Far Eastern Territorial Organization of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia received a message from the Vanino Transport Prosecutor's Office, which stated that the crew of the bulk carrier Polar Star had received all the delayed wages for March and April 2024 in the amount of about $147,000. In order to receive their legally earned money, the seafarers had to contact the port authorities and the transport prosecutor’s office when they arrived at Vanino in mid-May 2024.  The crew of 22 Russian seafarers joined a newly purchased bulk carrier Polar Star (flag of Sierra Leone, IMO 9471666) on December 15, 2023.  The registered and beneficial owner of the vessel, a signatory to the Declaration of Maritime Labor Compliance, Part II, of the Maritime Labor Convention, is Orange Marine Co LTD from Vladivostok. The vessel is not covered by any collective agreement with a trade union. According to the contract, the salary of an AB Seaman is $1,700, and that of a captain is $8,000. 

Upon completion of all necessary procedures and paperwork in China, the vessel headed to the port of Vanino for loading. During two voyages in January and February 2024 from the port of Vanino with a cargo of coal to the ports of South Korea, the crew received their wages on time. Since the very beginning of work on board this vessel, several crew members maintained regular contact with FETO SUR and informed about the terms of wage payment and working conditions. After performing voyages to the ports of Taiwan and South Korea in March and April 2024, the crew didn't get the earnings. The company didn't pay the promised wages even when the vessel arrived at Vanino in mid-May 2024 and berthed for a coal loading. So, bearing the current situation in mind, the crew decided to contact the port authorities and the transport prosecutor's office.

There is a cooperation agreement between FETO SUR and the Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor's Office. The parties expressed their keen interest in constructive collaboration, emphasizing the crucial significance of utilizing all legal inputs provided to enhance the efficacy and efficiency of prosecutor's supervision and public oversight of compliance with labor legislation and international conventions pertaining to seafarers' labor rights. Thus, after visiting the bulk carrier and meeting with the crew, representatives of the transport prosecutor’s office and port authorities decided to detain the vessel until the wage arrears would be paid in full. Representatives of FETO SUR and the prosecutor's office were in touch during the period of the vessel's detention and were promptly informing the crew about the measures being taken for early resolution of the labor dispute.

“The transport prosecutor’s office sent to the union the crew's payroll for March and April 2024, as well as a statement of a crew member to the captain that two months wages had been paid in full. The crew thanked representatives of the transport prosecutor’s office and the trade union for the assistance provided”, - Nikolay Sukhanov, FETO SUR Chairman, told. He believes that such tough issues could only be addressed successfully through solidarity. The seafarers were encouraged to join the trade union.