I am a UK seafarer and I work onboard a yacht that was detained in the EU in 2022, suspected of belonging to a sanctioned individual.
Subsequent legal investigation has found this not to be the case, but due to the lengthy legal process and the politicisation of this issue we are still not fully cleared.
The knock-on effect of this is that a huge number of companies have refused to do business with us. I understand that companies are cautious, but several are sole providers of services that directly relate to safety issues, and their refusal to render services puts seafarers' lives at risk.
Some of the companies that have refused service have not only been class societies, insurance underwriters, etc but FFE servicing technicians, including manufactures of fixed fire systems (who will no longer provide us with service), LSA servicing companies, naval architects, and engine manufacturers.
I have tried reminding these companies that we have a legal obligation to maintain crew safety systems, environmental protection and general health and safety onboard at all times but I think few people understand that their refusal to provide services on safety matters is only putting seafarers' lives at risk, as no guests are onboard these yachts while they are laid up.
My request to you would be to assist in highlighting these issues within the industry and seek clarification from the UK and EU bodies imposing these sanctions with regards to maintaining mandatory safety services onboard. Also, to ensure safety providers have clear guidance that they will not be in contravention of any sanctions if they are carrying out works to assist in safety-related maintenance tasks.
Membership no 1212036
Union advice on this matter is now available here
More letters
Help us remember MN veterans of D-Day in North Wales
The 6 June ceremonies in Portsmouth and Ver-sur-Mer commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Normandy Landings made little or no mention of the huge sacrifice and contribution made by the Fourth Service, the Merchant Navy. We intend to put this right in a ceremony in North Wales.
Corrupt port officials: what we all do to get by
Your article 'Corruption at ports endangering seafarers' in the May-June 2024 Telegraph covers a matter never discussed before I believe. I served as master worldwide for 25 years, and found demands of this kind frequently in Central and South America, and always at the Suez Canal.
P&O pirates
I don’t remember anyone saying that the crew members of the P&O ferries were signed off Articles by the shipping master prior to their removal from the vessels.