Change of shipowner: you can refuse to sign a contract

A change of shipowner is a significant alteration to the current seafarer's contract, so a crew member has every right not to sign the contract offered to him by a new employer. 

A crew member of the tanker Horae (flag of Panama) contacted the Seafarers' Union of Russia to make it clear whether he had the right not to sign a new contract and to early terminate the existing one in case of change of the shipowner. He explained that he and the other crew members were offered new contracts to sign as the tanker in Ust-Luga had a new shipowner. 

Having decided not to sign a new contract with the company, the seafarer wanted to clarify with the union what he could face in the current situation. 

The SUR confirmed that the law in this case is on the seafarer's side. 

Nevertheless, the shipowner did not want to terminate the contract, explaining that the seafarer's salary, as well as the other working conditions, would remain the same. 

Only after the union contacted the Port State Control, the employer signed off the crew member from the MV Horae. 

Having received the payment and returned home, the seafarer thanked the SUR for its assistance.