SUR and Norwegian Stolt Tankers B.V. signed an agreement in Nakhodka

The Seafarers' Union of Russia (SUR) and Stolt Tankers B.V. shipping company confirmed the  course  towards providing the decent  social guarantees  for seafarers. The both sides signed a collective agreement for  2019-2021 which is  in line with the ITF requirements. The SUR vice-chairman Nikolai Sukhanov and  the SUR  Far Eastern Regional Organization inspector  Vitaly Miroshnichenko, for  one  part, and the HR manager Igor Segeda and  the fleet manager at Asia-Pacific region Valentins Baburgs, for  the part of  Stolt Tankers B.V,  took part in the talks. Vladimir Nikitenko, the chief executive  of Primtanco crewing agency, visited a working meeting. Through the  negotiations the parties  discussed the  performance of previously signed agreement  2015-2018 and  come  to the  mutual consent that it has been realized without breaches. A master's wage  is over USD13,000  and  a seaman is paid approximately USD2,000. Today there are over 400 seafarers from the Russian Far  East region working at Stolt Tankers B.V. 

“Surely we can say that seafarers working under Stolt Tankers B.V collective agreement are being protected entirely”, said Nikolai Sukhanov, the chairman at the SUR Far Eastern Regional Organization. “The agreement meets to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 requirements. Also the contract  provides   the  provisions  for seafarers  working in the military operation zones or the pirate zones.    For instance,  an  insurance  cover is doubled and a seafarer receives  a bonus equal to 100% of his/her wage. Every seafarer should  be   informed  about voyages in high-risk areas in advance and  every seafarer  has a right  to avoid working   in these areas without  any consequences for  further employment  on other ships  of the Norwegian company”.

Nikolai Sukhanov pointed  out  that all seafarers employed at Stolt Tankers B.V. fleet are  the SUR members. All ships have  an Internet  access and  the crews are   always able  to keep in touch with their  families and  friends  during their  voyages in any region.

It should  be  reminded that the Seafarers' Union of  Russia has been cooperating   with Stolt Tankers B.V.   over 15 years and   for  this  time  there wasn't  any violation of agreement.  Stolt Tankers B.V.  operates the largest and  the most complex fleet in the world comprising  the deep-sea, regional, coastal and  inland tankers. The  company  provides the   reliable and quality  transport services  for   the  world's leading chemical  and  other bulk liquid producers.

The existing collective agreement  expires  on December 31, 2018.