FERO SUR asked colleagues from Taiwan to take under control payments to Russian seafarers

Inspectors of the Far Eastern Regional Organization of the Seafarers' Union of Russia visited the MV Mesana (flag of Sierra Leone, IMO 9516868): according to the crew, they didn't get their wages for February, and the captain refused to provide the SUR representatives with documents, citing the company's order. 

The MV Mesana is berthed at the Nakhodka Commercial Sea Port under loading of cast iron destined for Taiwan. The registered owner of the vessel is Crystal Ocean LTD-HKG, the operator is Orange Marine Co. Ltd-RUS, both companies have the same registered address in Vladivostok. The crew of the vessel consists of 19 Russian seafarers, all of them are from Primorsky Kray, and have been employed by Orange Marine Ltd. 

— According to the captain, the company prohibits providing documents to trade union inspectors for verification, — the Chairman of the Far Eastern Regional Organization of the Seafarers' Union of Russia Nikolay Sukhanov noted. — Therefore, we couldn't examine the seafarers' employment contracts and verify there was a Declaration of maritime labour compliance part II available on board the MV Mesana. 

The seafarers gathered around the representatives of the Seafarers' Union of Russia told that they had still not been paid their wages for February 2025.

— Unfortunately, this happens on board flag of convenience vessels, — Sukhanov said. — Cheap registers cannot always ensure compliance with minimum welfare standards. Meanwhile, there are maritime unions that successfully carry out this work, offering collective agreements. For example, an AB Seaman would receive at least USD1,836, and the insured amount in case of seafarers' death would be at least USD110,000. Trade unions are fighting the flags of convenience system so that seafarers, regardless of nationality, gender, race or religion, are protected from exploitation by employers and those who act on their behalf. As for the information from crew members regarding the back pay for February 2025 and the shipowner's promise to pay the money at the next port of call, the FERO SUR Chairman Nikolay Sukhanov sent a letter to colleagues from the Taiwan Seafarers' Union asking them to take under control the payments to Russian seafarers. 

"We also offered the seafarers to join the ranks of the Far Eastern Regional Organization of the Seafarers' Union of Russia," he added. 

Photo — FERO SUR