Over 100 Russian-flagged vessels were visited by the  inspectors of the  Far Eastern Regional Organization of  the  Seafarers' Union of Russia (SUR FERO) in the  Port of Nakhodka  in last three years. The  officers highlighted  that the crews couldn't  voice an amount of minimum wage they received. It is almost impossible  to calculate it  without assistance, even if  the  individual contracts, which are often meet the Russian legislation, exist: payment system is complex. In addition, the system allows   the  unfair shipowners  to scale down the amount of   bonuses and  to pay a pittance. 

The tanker Kairos (flag of the Russian Federation) has convinced  this once  again. The  vessel is owned by Morskoy Standart Bunker company in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. 

Nikolai Sukhanov, the  chairman of the  SUR FERO, said that according to a seaman's employment agreement, the  amount  of his wage is determined by the  Regulations on Wages developed by the  shipowner. It includes RUB3,480.10 as an official salary per month. Further the  document says that the  employer pays  to a seafarer  a salary including the  bonuses and benefits in accordance  with  the  mentioned Regulations. Also when a ship is  in foreign voyage, a seafarer is paid a foreign currency instead of daily allowance. In fact, it is almost impossible to calculate a minimum wage for a seafarer working on a Russian flagged-vessel.