OREANDA-NEWS. Three seamen from a Russian ship Palladium detained in South Korean Busan returned to Russia and received a delayed salary at the expense of the insurance company, Chairman of the Far Eastern Regional Organization of the Russian Seamen’s Union Nikolai Sukhanov told reporters. 

To do this, the sailors came to the consulate of Russia in Busan and filed an application there with the insurance company. “The consulate general in Busan handed over seamen’s applications to Moscow to the head of the marine insurance department at Rosgosstrakh’s head office,” the Russian media quoted Mr Sukhanov. Previously, he said that the shipowner ran out of money for the maintenance of seafarers, did not supply food to the vessel and did not have electricity on board.

"The presence on board of two insurance certificates of the shipowner's financial guarantee, in accordance with the requirements of the 2006 Joint Convention, allowed three sailors - a cook, a boatswain and a donkerman - to buy tickets from Busan to Vladivostok and receive a delayed salary for the last four months at the expense of the insurance company," reported Sukhanov.

In March, a South Korean court sentenced several sailors from the Palladium vessel to prison terms. Recall, "Palladium" was detained by the authorities of South Korea because of wage arrears to seamen. The crew could not return to Russia: the shipowner, citing lack of funds, refused to pay for the tickets. Later, when he arrived at the ship, he assumed the functions of captain and gave the order to move toward Japan, despite the demands of the coast guard. The vessel was detained with the help of a helicopter with a landing force.

Since January 18, 2017, amendments to the Consolidated Convention of 2006 came into force, obliging shipowners to have on each ship two insurance certificates providing financial guarantees to seafarers.