Crew Members Are Left to Their Own Devices, Without Pay and Almost Out of Food on Ship Docked at the Yard Rented by Wilson Sons in Santos Port

Brazilian Court Orders Repatriation of 15 Eastern European Crew Members Left to Their Own Devices on the Vessel Srakane at the Port of Santos

Since September 2020, fifteen crew members of the Vessel Srakane, anchored at the dock of the shipyard leased by Wilson Sons in Guarujá for repairs, have been abandoned by their employers, leaving the workers to fend for themselves in precarious conditions of hygiene, health, and safety, in addition to not receiving salaries for months. Items like food and fuel are arriving in a makeshift manner.

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The situation was uncovered after the Public Labor Ministry (MPT) of Santos received a correspondence informing that on April 22, a transportation company was hired to provide an emergency supply of essential food to the Srakane but was unable to deliver the food. Inspections were conducted.

Vessel Srakane is Anchored at the Dock of the Shipyard Leased by Wilson Sons at the Port of Santos

The vessel is located at a non-operational terminal owned by the Nipo-Brazilian Fishing Cooperative and is leased by the Wilson Sons Shipyard. It was under repair, without engines, and connected to an auxiliary generator. On April 26, Captain Eduard Goguadze asked for help as the crew was already out of water and food.

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The MPT, on the same day, contacted the Port Guard, under the responsibility of the Santos Port Authority (SPA), formerly the Docks Company of the State of São Paulo (Codesp). During the conversation, it was informed that a small amount of food had been delivered by sea, but only enough for that day.

In Desperation, the Crew Members Volunteered to Fetch Supplies at the Gate and Carry Them by Hand, but Were Not Authorized

The MPT also sought the responsible parties at Wilson Sons, but there was no practical result, just as there was no success in attempting to open the gates for sending supplies overland.

“The transportation company was hired and paid to buy and deliver food, water, fuel, and to clean up liquid and solid waste by land. We contacted the Harbor Master, who informed us that they had no legal authority to act and advised us to call the Port Authority (SPA),” explains attorney Rodrigo Lestrade in the action.

As stated in the action, the transportation company attempted again to deliver the supplies but was unsuccessful. The crew members even volunteered to walk the 200 meters between the vessel and the gate to carry the supplies by hand, but were not authorized.

Nothing is so bad that it cannot get worse… The vessel is about to run out of lighting, which could compromise safety in the Santos Channel, in addition to leaving the crew members unable to prepare food and basic care.

The vessel, flying the Panamanian flag, is owned by Vintade Trading SRO, from the city of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, and chartered by Oceans Wide Limited, based in Malta.

The Public Labor Ministry Ordered Immediate Disembarkation, Repatriation of the Crew Members, and Other Emergency Measures

According to the sentence issued by the Brazilian court, the responsible companies must pay salaries; hire new sailors, and rearm the vessel within 30 days, under penalty of a daily fine of R$ 100 thousand.

Immediate disembarkation and repatriation of all crew members from Georgia, Montenegro, and Ukraine have also been ordered, with coverage of all necessary expenses (air tickets on a rescue flight, accommodation and daily allowances, land transportation, luggage transfer, food, remuneration, benefits, and medical assistance, under the same daily fine).

Additionally, it was ordered that testing for COVID-19 be conducted for all crew members to ensure sanitary safety in accommodations and transportation. The companies will not be able to abandon the vessel, and the exit passes from the Port are suspended.

The Labor Court has already informed the situation to the embassies of Georgia and Ukraine and the Consulate of Montenegro. Furthermore, the Harbor Master and the Special Maritime Police Unit (Nepom) of the Federal Police (PF), in Santos, have been informed.

Wilson Sons’ Statement

“Wilson Sons empathizes with the situation of the crew of the vessel and remains available to the competent authorities to provide any necessary assistance.

Between September and November 2020, the Wilson Sons shipyard division in Guarujá provided emergency assistance to the vessel, which was experiencing mechanical failures. The commercial relationship was conducted through the vessel owner’s maritime agent.

In May 2021, Wilson Sons was notified by the Public Labor Ministry (MPT) of Santos to provide clarifications, which was promptly answered. The MPT understood that the company bears no responsibility for the crew or the vessel, excluding the Company from the investigation.

It is important to emphasize that the supply to the vessel, which can be done both by sea and land, continues to be carried out regularly through companies contracted for this purpose by the vessel’s maritime agent, without any restrictions, precisely to preserve human well-being.”