Rogue ferry firm located

THE International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has finally tracked down a Russian company which it believes has not paid crew members of a ferry for up to four months.

Ken Fleming of the ITF said he has made contact with St Petersburg crewing agents Unimar and it has admitted not paying crew members on the Merchant Bravery vessel for work done.

The ITF has found that crew members are earning as little as €2 per hour and it is estimated that more than €200,000 is owed. Some of the seafarers have provided the union with double contracts, one with the salary which they should be getting paid and the other with the actual amount that they are being given.