Bulk carrier Comet became a target of the inspection campaign

Inspectors of the Far Eastern Territorial Organization of the Seafarers' Union of Russia have visited the bulk carrier Comet (flag of Barbados, IMO 0314090), berthed at the port of Vostochny under a coal loading. Its crew consists of 24 seafarers: 10 Turks and 14 Filipinos.

According to the Chairman of the Far Eastern Territorial Organization of the Seafarers' Union of Russia Nikolay Sukhanov,  the operator and beneficial shipowner of the vessel is the Istanbul-based Spark Gemi Isletmeciligi AS.

There is no collective agreement with the Turkish Seafarers' Union. The salary of an AB Seaman is $1,500, and the captain's salary is $9,800. Insurance certificates in accordance with the requirements of the Maritime Labor Convention, 2006 are in place  on board.

— We asked the Turkish captain to gather the crew members free from watch and work in the mess-room, — they were told about the purpose of our visit to the bulk carrier, — Sukhanov continued. — As is known, the Paris and Tokyo Memorandums of Understanding on Port State Control announced a joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on working conditions of seafarers from September, 1. The CIC will be focused on timely payment of salaries, the presence of individual contracts, the indication of the insurance amounts in case of injury or death on board and many other things that make up comfortable and safe working and living conditions for any seafarer on a voyage. 

In cases where the rights of the fleet workers are violated, Port State Control authorities can detain the vessel in the port until the end of the proceedings. The campaign will be held in the ports of Europe and Asia for three months. Its goal is to assist seafarers in protecting their interests. 

As for the bulk carrier Comet, all its crew members  have employment agreements signed by both parties to the agreement. Besides, the Inspectors were  shown the payroll for August 2024: there were  no arrears.

The SUR representatives informed the seafarers that the vessel was flying the flag of convenience of Barbados. In addition, they told the crew that working under a collective agreement, an AB Seaman  would receive at least USD1,836, and the insured amount in case of seafarers' death  would be at least USD110,000. 

In this regard, the crew asked the FETO SUR representatives to send the company a notice demanding to conclude a collective agreement with the Turkish trade union.

The Inspectors answered the seafarers' questions and gave them fresh magazines  "Maritime Unions Herald" and books on the rights of seafarers working on FOC vessels. Besides, they invited the crew of the bulk carrier Comet to visit  the International Maritime Club.

The seafarers thanked the FETO SUR representatives for their visit and expressed hope that the shipowner would conclude a collective agreement with the union.

- Considering that the next port of call will be in Taiwan, we informed our foreign colleagues about the need to visit the bulk carrier again, - the FETO SUR Chairman added.