SUR member got back his money seized by German customs

This is another example of the mutual help maritime unions render each other. Thus, the German marine union Ver.di provided assistance to the motorman of the vessel Sapsan, a member of the Seafarers' Union of Russia, from whom the customs service of Hamburg Airport seized funds in the amount of EUR13,500.

According to the Chairman of the SUR Sevastopol Primary Organization, Artem Boev, the motorman faced the problems when he was returning home through Hamburg airport after having worked out a contract on board a vessel covered by the SUR collective agreement. -The seafarer passed passport and visa control, and approached the customs service to declare cash - his salary, - Boev told. – As a result, German customs seized EUR13,300 from him.

The fact was that the seafarer should declare the money before passing through passport and visa control.

As the SUR Sevastopol Primary Organization explained, the solidarity and interaction between the two trade unions and the shipowner played an invaluable role in this matter: the customs returned the motorman’s money in full, despite the fact that ignorance of the laws does not exempt him from responsibility.