27.02.2023

M/v VSG Dream left Nakhodka after complying with PSC mandatory requirements

According to Nikolay Sukhanov, Chairman of the Far Eastern Territorial Organization of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia (FETO SUR) the vessel headed to the Vietnamese port of Haiphong for equipment repair and painting. “Before that the shipowner has to hold negotiations with the trade union and sign the International Transport Workers' Federation collective agreement,” - Nikolay Sukhanov added.

It should be reminded that on February 17, the Port State Control (PSC) of Nakhodka decided to detain the m/v VSG Dream (IMO 9217802, Panama flag, built in 2000), owned by the Vietnamese company Viconship Saigon because during the inspection a lot of technical deficiencies were found on board. Besides,  there were many issues with working conditions of the crew consisted  of 10 Vietnamese and 9 Indian seafarers. Thus, FETO SUR representatives  drew the attention of the PSC to low and unequal - for representatives of different nationalities -  wages and to violations of  individual contracts execution.

Thus, the salary for a Vietnamese  AB Seaman was USD1,150, and for an Indian AB  - USD300 only. At the same time, the individual contracts of seafarers from Vietnam were drawn up improperly: they stated neither the amount of wages nor the amount of insurance compensation in case of the death of a seafarer. The contracts of the Indians contain the amount of wage, but its size is extremely small.

It's worth noting that before the SUR representatives visited the vessel, the seafarers were not even aware of the existence of the International Transport Workers' Federation. The Inspectors told the crew about the activity of the ITF and the SUR, about the benefits of having a collective agreement on board, and, at the request of the crew sent a notice to the shipowner demanding to conclude a collective agreement.


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