At the end of last month, an incident occurred at the mouth of the Bystre River: the bulk carrier VYSSOS (IMO 9385790, Panama), which was heading to the port of Izmail to load grain, hit a mine and sustained significant damage to its hull.
As a result, the engine room was flooded and the ship lost power. One of the crew members needed medical assistance. The Ukrainian Navy sent rescue boats, and the vessel was towed to the port of Izmail for water pumping and repairs.
The captain of the vessel filed a complaint with ITF Ukraine's Inspector Natalia Efrimenko, who works for the Marine Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine, that the shipowner was delaying payment of wages and failing to provide proper living conditions for the crew.
To establish the circumstances, the MTWTU visited the vessel and found that the crew's complaints were true. The electricity supply is used only for lighting and emergency work, and is not enough for heating and crew needs, which is why the temperature in the living quarters was 12 degrees Celsius at the time. Currently, with the air temperature dropping to sub-zero levels, the temperature in the cabins does not exceed 5-6 degrees. The galley and refrigerators are not working, there is no possibility to store and prepare food, the crew receives ready-made lunch packs from the agent, but they do not meet the needs of half of the crew who have certain religious habits. There is no way to cook or even heat food on the vessel; there is no water for domestic and hygienic needs, and bottled drinking water is still in pre-made stocks. Nine of the crew are Egyptians who are not allowed to go ashore due to a lack of visas; unfortunately
The shipowner has substantial wage arrears to the entire crew, and is also required to pay the seafarers a bonus for being in the war zone. Due to the lack of communication with the shipowner and his unwillingness to address the crew's problems, the terrible working and living conditions and uncertain future, the general condition of the seafarers is rapidly deteriorating and they are now demanding an immediate resolution of the issues of wages and the organisation of the write-off.
The ITF investigator in Ukraine is currently in communication with the ship's master, agent and a representative of the Egyptian Embassy in Ukraine to help resolve the wage arrears. The vessel's agent brought small heaters and also arranged for some of the crew to go ashore and stay in a hotel for some time to rest. In addition, the Union called on the Izmail International Seafarers' Club to join in supporting the crew. The issue of the Interclub's assistance to the seafarers in the form of some household items to facilitate their stay on the ship is currently being resolved.
Although the crew members are not MTWTU members, professional unity requires everyone who is in a position to influence the resolution of the catastrophic situation of the VYSSOS crew to do everything possible. That is why the MTWTU has engaged all resources to improve the condition of the seafarers who are hostage to the situation.
