The crew of the m/v Viktoriya supported the trade union’s standpoint

The representatives of the Far Eastern Territorial Organization of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia visited  the m/v Viktoriya (IMO9004516, flag of Russia,1992-built) berthed at the fishing port of Nakhodka and found out that the crew members were paid relatively low salaries and were not aware of  the insurance payments they or their relatives are entitled to  in case of injury or death . The SUR FETO Inspectors told the crew members about the benefits that the benefits of trade union’s membership and how the situation on board would change if there was a collective agreement. The seafarers who were not yet members of the SUR FETO asked for an entry application form. Besides, the seafarers  expressed their hope for  the shipowner would enter into negotiations with the trade union in the near future.

According to Nikolay Sukhanov, FETO SUR Chairman, the owner and operator of the vessel is a Vladivostok-based Sea Victory LLC. The crew consisted of 19 seafarers from Primorsky Region, some of them were the SUR members at the time of the visit. The basic rate for AB Seaman was only RUB14,000 (USD280), the  salary with all bonuses wasn’t more than  RUB60,000 (about USD1000). The captain received approximately RUB120,000 (USD2,000) per month.

Seafarers had individual contracts, insurance certificates of Rosgosstrakh were  available on board, though the amount of compensation in case of injury or death were not indicated and were unknown by the seafarers. The contracts also stipulated  the seafarers had been insured by the Social Insurance Fund (SIF).

-Unfortunately, today it is a collective agreement only that gives gives seafarers reliably guarantees since this document clearly stipulated the payments’ amounts due, - Nikolay Sukhanov believes. - After all, there is still no clear legislation on life and health insurance for seafarers in Russia. At the same time the  mandatory  insurance in the SIF does not always guarantee the possibility of receiving compensation in the event of death on board. Earlier the SUR FETO appealed to the Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor's Office in connection with the existing problems:  we asked to verify the compliance of the shipping companies of the Far East with Art. 60 of paragraph 2 of the Merchant Shipping Code in relation to mandatory  life and health insurance for seafarers and the legality of obtaining insurance certificates by shipowners. 

The audit revealed that not all companies insured their employees, or, if they did it was often that seafarers were not aware of the insurance amount  due to be paid to their  relatives in case o seafarer’s death on board.

The SUR FERO Chairman noted that a collective agreement of the SUR, an affiliated member of the International Transport Workers Federation,  assumes in addition to a base rate of at least USD 641 (RUb40,000) a decent compensation in case of death  to seafarer’s family. The standpoint of the trade union insisting on  signing of a collective agreement found understanding and support among the crew members. Before leaving  the FETO SUR representatives gave the crew the journals  "Maritime Union’s Herald" and books on the activity of the SUR.