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ITF helps Ukrainian seafarers abandoned in France

29 May 2009

The ITF has been helping nine Ukrainian seafarers abandoned for six months without wages in Brest, France. The Greek-owned, Panama-flagged Captain Tsarev broke down and had to be towed into Brest in November. Although 15 of the crew were paid off and repatriated, the remaining nine seafarers have been abandoned and are owed six months' back pay of US $77,000. The ship's owners have also been sued for unpaid fuel bills.

Following intervention by the ITF, in pursuit of French law – which has a system of financial subsidy for seafarers abandoned in French ports – the ship has now been arrested in Brest. Under the French system, the ship has to be arrested before the authorities can repatriate the seafarers, maintain them and advance owed wages. The French authorities are now pursuing the crew's back pay and repatriation.

Thierry Beisser, from the French maritime agency les Affaires Maritimes, said: "this ship well illustrates the damage caused by the economic situation, which we have come across in similar cases in other French ports. It's the fourth ship with this problem in France since October 2008." The other cases have involved ships abandoned in La Seyne-sur-Mer, La Pallice and Saint-Malo.

The ITF has thanked the French authorities for their cooperation and commitment to finding a viable outcome for the abandoned seafarers.

PROBLEMS WITH PAY?
Are you having problems with getting your pay in full? If you are, this could be a sign that your company is in economic trouble. You should contact your union or the ITF directly as soon as possible to protect your wages and employment.

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