SUR insisted on repatriation of its union member

The Seafarers' Union of Russia helped the Chief Officer of the tanker Sea Runner (Liberian flag, IMO 9442720) return home after the end of his employment contract. 

This followed negotiations between the Foreign Relations Department of the Seafarers' Union of Russia and the Greek company Aerio Ship Management Ltd. The Union received the first message from the Chief Officer on June 10, 2024. He said that MV Sea Runner arrived at the roadstead of the port of Sudan for unloading. The seafarer asked the company to provide him with a replacement since his contract ended on June 16, 2024, and waiting for unloading could take more than two months. 

He had previously clarified with the agent that a crew change was possible at the roadstead of the port of Sudan. 

The company responded to the seafarer and the SUR Foreign Relations Department that it was impossible to issue a transit visa due to local holidays, so they asked seafarer to extend his contract until the 30th of June. 

The Chief Officer agreed, but on the 1st of July, 2024, he contacted SUR again: the contract had expired, and there was no information about repatriation. The company explained this by the fact that the agent was unable to issue exit documents, so it was not possible to arrange repatriation. 

Unfortunately, the delay in the replacement of the seafarer provoked several conflicts on board the vessel between crew members, and SUR Foreign Relations Department once again urged the company to resolve the situation in short order. Finally, the Chief Officer has been signed off from the tanker in Sudan. 

The seafarer, who is a SUR member, thanked the Seafarers' Union of Russia for the assistance and support provided in time of need – the representatives of the Far Eastern Territorial Organization of SUR were in touch with him throughout the entire period of waiting for repatriation. 

It should be noted, that there is no collective agreement with the Union on board the vessel. In the absence of a collective agreement, it is worth securing the support of the union by joining its ranks. 

Photo: marinetraffic.com/Heiner Tetens