Union blocks ship until workers get €56k in wages

THE International Transport Federation has given the owners of a Russian ship tied up in New Ross until today to pay its crew more than €56,000 in owed wages otherwise it will seek the arrest of the ship.

The Blankanese, a 4,400 ton bulk freighter, arrived into the Wexford port on Thursday carrying a shipment of fertiliser.

The International Transport Federation’s inspector for Ireland SIPTU official Ken Fleming had received a tip-off from the Seafarers Union of Russia that some of the 10 crew onboard had not received wages since August 2010.

After inspecting the vessel Mr Fleming said he was gravely concerned that, as far as he was concerned, the ship did not meet international standards as regards pay, working conditions or general safety requirements.

“I have therefore decided to request the assistance of the Department of Transport in ensuring the Blankanese does not leave port until it is fully compliant,” he said. “Apart from arrears of pay there is very little meat on board, no fresh vegetables apart from some potatoes. There is no fruit juice or yoghurt, items essential to seafarers’ health and only 15 litres of water to last them to their next destination which remains, as yet, unknown. Given the past record of this company I think there is an obligation on the ITF and Irish authorities to ensure compliance before the vessel disappears over the horizon.”

Mr Fleming believes the Blankanese may have the same owners as two other vessels, the Merchant Bravery and Merchant Brilliant which he dealt with in 2006 and 2007 and which he found owed their crews a combined total of $500,000 (€370,000).

“Despite lack of co-operation from the owners and their local representative, I am satisfied the crew are owed $75,059 (€56,000) and have been forced to work excessive hours in breach of International Labour Organisation standards. As often happens in these situations we are dealing with management structures with as many layers as a Russian doll. No less than three companies are involved, all of them based in Latvia and using Russian crews. These men are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because they are not EU nationals.”

He called on Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to draw up a blacklist of shipping companies that are serial offenders and bar them from Irish ports.