On 12 August, the International Transport Workers’ Federation- connected Marine Transport Workers’ Trade Union (MTWTU) of Ukraine aided 6 Ukrainian seafarers return residence after they were deceived by an infamous phony manning representative.
At the start of July, 20 Ukrainian seafarers authorized employment agreement with the Ukrainian manning representative Artur Kharatyan, the owner of Kharatyan Crew Management, to function onboard the ships MV Arif Kaptan and also MVRachel Borchard Soon after authorizing the agreement, the Kharatyan carried the staffs to the Turkish city of Karasu, where they were meant to sign up with the ships there.
The seafarers were sent out to a resort in Karasu, waiting to board for their brand-new excursions. But that’s when points began to come to be questionable. With each brand-new day, the team did not board their ships. Instead, the manning representative would certainly inform them that team adjustment was practically to begin– they would certainly need to wait simply a little much longer.
Image Credits: itfglobal.org
Days came to be greater than a week. A week came to be 2. And after that, instantly, Artur Kharatyan damaged the get in touch with and also changed his phone off.
With no interaction from Kharatyan and also in an international port, the Ukrainian seafarers currently discovered their issues installing. Their holiday accommodation at the resort had actually not been paid, either by the shipowners or the manning representative, and also eventually the seafarers found they had actually built up substantial financial obligations for bed and board inKarasu The resort proprietor confiscated their traveling keys to ensure that the financial obligation to him would certainly be repaid. The seafarers were currently embeded Turkey.
MTWTU First Vice-Chairman Oleg Grygoriuk claims that, prior to embarking on traveling to sign up with a ship, seafarers must make use of the different totally free sites and also mobile applications offered to search for the place of vessels and also guarantee what they are being informed by manning representatives and also shipowners matches openly offered info.
“None of the seafarers thought to check the vessels or their location prior to signing contracts or travelling to Turkey. They would have known to do this if they sought advice from the MTWTU,” claimed Grygoriuk.
Image Credits: itfglobal.org
“Afterwards, when the problem unfolded, our union contacted the owners of both ships to find out that neither of them had ever had any relations with Kharatyan Crew Management. Incredibly, the MV Arif Kaptan has been laid up and non-operational for three years already!”
Grygoriuk claimed that this was not the very first time that seafarers have actually succumbed the “unscrupulous” Kharatyan.
“For several years now, criminal proceedings have been ongoing against this fraudster Kharatyan for extortion of seafarers, and taking bribes from them,” claimed Grygoriuk.
“What makes this worse is that the 20 Ukrainian seafarers had to pay Kharatyan to enter the fake contracts, from USD 1,500 to USD 7,000 each.”
In very early August, 14 of the seafarers returned residence to Ukraine at their very own expenditure. The continuing to be 6 were incapable to pay holiday accommodation financial obligations to the resort proprietor and also recuperate their keys. Furthermore, several could not pay for to obtain residence from Turkey.
“That was the time when the MTWTU asked the ITF for support,” claimed First Vice-Chairman Grygoriuk
Oleksandr Dimchev, Ukrainian Vice-Consul in Istanbul, efficiently suggested for and also won a decrease in the team’s holiday accommodation financial obligation.
“We immediately bought out the seafarers’ passports, having covered the accommodation debts. Money was sent to the crew to buy food and basic necessities and we booked the next available flight home. Given the crew had prepared to be months at sea, we bought extra baggage, and ensured they had transfers from the hotel to Istanbul airport and from Kiev Borispol airport to Odessa,” claimed Grygoriuk.
By 12 August, the 6 seafarers had actually been securely gone back to Odessa from Karasu.
“The conned seafarers now intend to join the other over 50 victims of the unscrupulous manning agent Kharatyan to seek help from law enforcement authorities to stop this man.”
One of the repatriated team, Captain Oleg Lunyov, claimed he is grateful for ITF aid however stays let down and also upset at the method the seafarers were manipulated by Kharatyan.
“Our crew really wanted to work; we trusted the people who promised us work and gave us hope in the most difficult times. On behalf of my, unfortunately, failed crew, I want to express my deep gratitude to the ITF,” he claimed.
“We saw the professional work of the ITF team and the help of the Ukrainian union.”
Cook Valeriy Rak, an additional influenced seafarer, claimed “As for the very first voyage, that was a really bad, bitter experience, but what can I do? Thanks to the ITF, we are back. We wanted to make some money, but were unfortunate. It is rather difficult to find employment during this hard time – we would have taken any job.”
“Thanks to the ITF for being with us and for supporting us,” claimed Rak.
The tale of the fooled staffs has actually obtained vast attention in neighborhood Ukrainian media, accentuating the concern of seafarer rip-offs.
Reflecting on the instance, the MTWTU’s Oleg Grygoriuk claimed “We hope it serves as a cautionary tale for other seafarers to check out a potential place of work – a ship – before going anywhere or trusting suspicious intermediaries”.
“As always – contact your union. We don’t want to see you victimised or taken advantage of. We are here for you,” claimed Grygoriuk.
Reference: itfglobal.org
