"Dignity" ship has no dignity: Egypt hinders Russian crew of the "Dignity" oil tanker from returning home

March 13, according to RIA Novosti, Igor Kovalchuk, first vice chairman of the Russian Seafarers' Union, stated that Egyptian authorities are hindering the crew of the detained Russian oil tanker "Dignity" from returning home. The oil tanker has been detained since last autumn, and the Egyptian side claims that a vessel without a crew cannot remain in the Suez Port.

This oil tanker has been detained by Egypt for half a year due to not paying the Suez Canal tolls.

The crew has not received normal food supplies for more than four months, the ship's fuel has run out, and there is basic power failure. The ship owner is on the verge of bankruptcy. The crew had planned to abandon the ship on March 16, leaving the vessel in the Egyptian port.

Kovalchuk explained that, "If the shipowner is unable to pay wages and fulfill other obligations, the crew will be considered as abandoned. In this case, repatriation and wages should be borne by the insurance company. The responsible insurance company has prepared to arrange the crew's return, but the Egyptian side is blocking the repatriation, citing the reason that according to navigation safety requirements, an anchored vessel must be manned by a crew."

He added that, according to the Maritime Labour Convention, as a member state, Egypt has no right to refuse the repatriation of the crew due to the shipowner's financial problems or lack of crew change.

"In addition, member states have an obligation to assist the crew to return home as soon as possible, including cases of abandonment. We believe that the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Transport should intervene to resolve this conflict and cooperate with Egypt to complete the crew change."

Kovalchuk said that the seafarers' union has been receiving complaints from the crew since mid-last year, with the shipowner "Argo Shipping Group" owing wages. The union provided assistance, and in August last year, the shipowner paid 10.5 million rubles in arrears.

 

Original: toutiao.com/article/1859567168857228/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.