Agree not refuse

It's up to seafarers to decide where to put the comma. Three Russian seafarers from the tanker Briont (IMO 9252955), having refused the tempting offer of the company to receive their wages through an intermediary, turned to the Seafarers' Union of Russia for assistance and managed to receive their money via e-wallet. 

Problems emerged on board the MV Briont after the change of the ship management company. The new company terminated the contract with a proven crewing agency, which had been regularly paying wages without delays for years. The reason for the termination of the contract was the fact that the crewing agency came under sanctions. 

At first, the seafarers were assured that the terms of payments would not change: they were still supposed to receive their wages in euros to their accounts at Raiffeisen Bank. However, soon the new crewing company, registered in Turkey, refused to transfer money via this bank, citing sanctions and offered to make payments through a private individual with a 2% commission. The crewing agency explained that today many seafarers receive their salaries through an intermediary. For example, last month, the families of 38 Russian sailors were allegedly paid without delay. Crewing suggested that the crew of the tanker Briont try this way of payment. 

The crew flatly refused this method of payment and turned to the Seafarers' Union of Russia for assistance. Following the intervention of the SUR Labor Inspector Olga Ananina, three Russian seafarers who were owed more than $30,000 got their money via the MarTrust e-wallet. But after a while, the problems on board the ship resumed. The 4th Engineer of the tanker Briont reported that he was promised $4,000 per month at the interview. In fact, the payments did not exceed $3,100, and from April 27, they stopped paying even this amount. At the same time, according to him, the Georgian and Indian crew members received money regularly. 

The situation on board the tanker Briont remained stressful for a long time: the captain left the vessel due to a nervous breakdown, and his replacement signed off shortly after his appointment. At the port of Tuapse, the Chief Engineer, Fourth Engineer and Chief Officer were replaced. As for the debt, crew members who kept contact with the Seafarers' Union of Russia reported that it was paid off. 

The Seafarers' Union of Russia warns: payments through a private individual are a risky "gray" scheme. This option puts crew members in a vulnerable position.