In the port of Murmansk, after the Russian Seafarers’ Union appealed to the state port control, the tanker Unity under the Lesotho flag was detained. The reasons were the debt in wages to the sailors, the non-working number of the Inmarsat satellite communications, as well as serious problems with the ship’s documents.
According to the sailors, they have not received their wages for July of this year, and their June wages arrived only on July 27. The previously written-off crew members have also not yet received their pay. After unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue directly with the ship owner, the crew members contacted the Russian Seafarers’ Union. Olga Ananyina, a labor inspector with the Russian Union of Seafarers, forwarded their application to the Murmansk port captain’s office to recover wage arrears from the ship owner, compensation for passage through pirate danger zones, and fines for late payments. According to the ship’s captain’s calculations, the total amount of debt to the 20-person crew as of August 13 was 4.9 million rubles and $28.5 thousand.
The sailors also reported that some of the crew worked under contracts with Argo Tanker Group LLC, which is not legally the ship owner. Another group signed contracts with FMTC ShipCharter LLC. In addition, some contracts contained references to a collective agreement with the Russian Seafarers’ Union, which was not actually concluded.
The crew is particularly concerned about the confusion with the vessel’s documents. For example, the Gambian flag registration certificate expired on August 5 this year, which invalidates the associated ASTC insurance policy. The new documents – the Lesotho flag registration certificate and the Pyramid Marine Overseas insurance policy – list Petroleum United FZCO as the registration company.
“Sailors fear that since the vessel has indeed changed its flag and registry company, all contracts on board are invalid, and they will not be able to apply to the P&I if the shipowner is unable to fulfill contractual obligations regarding the payment of wages,” Olga Ananyina noted.
The port control inspection that arrived on board on August 28 confirmed numerous violations, refusing to issue permission to leave the seaport until all discrepancies were corrected.
The sailors now hope that the ship’s detention will force the shipowner and operator to pay off all outstanding debts, giving those whose contracts have expired the opportunity to go ashore with the money they have earned.
It is noteworthy that the company “Argo Tanker Group” has already figured in a similar story with the tanker “Dignity”. Then, thanks to the joint efforts of the RPSM and the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, the ship’s crew managed to get a debt of 10.5 million rubles paid. However, after settling accounts with the sailors, the ship owner stopped communicating.
The RPSM reminds that before concluding employment contracts, seafarers should consult with the trade union in order to avoid such problems and ensure the protection of their rights.
Source: SEAFARERS’ UNION OF RUSSIA