Arakan News Agency
Myanmar Seamen’s Federation pledged to assist survivors and families of seamen who died in the Russian trawler accident at a meeting in Yangon Wednesday. The federation met with the 22 survivors and the family member of sailors who died at a trawler that sank in Russia’s coast on April 1. Wah Wah Khaing was at the meeting.
The hope is to help them get necessary assistance, including relevant compensation according to their contract from the Russian vessel and respective recruitment agencies.
SAILOR, THAN HTIKE: When the accident happened, we were in the cold water for about 3 hours. After that, the rescue team arrived and I thought it was the chance for me to be alive. We will talk to the federation about how we can get the salary for all the months that we worked for, compensation for those of us who have insurance from the company, and also for our property that were lost during the accident.
The incident has unveiled shady work conditions among the seamen involved. One family member of a seaman who died claimed her son was first sent to work for a Korean ship but was soon moved to Russia without their knowing.
Sailor’s Mother, Daw Htay: Firstly, my son thought he had to work at a Korean ship, so he went to Korea last 4 months ago. When he arrived at the hotel, we got contact with him. After that, we lost contact with my son so we didn’t know why he was working at a fishing trawler. At the 3rd of this month, I learned that my son died on the accident and even now I feel very sad and cry every day.
Russian company Magellan LLC said it would give a 15,000 USD compensation for the seamen who died in the accident and 3,000 USD for survivors. Survivor seamen said they expect it to be released through the Myanmar Embassy in Russia on Wednesday.
The federation is also set to meet with Russian and Myanmar authorities in a bid to get rightful compensation for the seamen.
Vice President (1), Myanmar Seamen’s Federation, Sein Hlaing: We have a plan to discuss with the representatives from Myanmar, Embassy of Russia and also Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get their compensation including for the people who missing in the accident.
42 Myanmar seamen were onboard the sunken Russian vessel, where 16 have died and 22 survived. Four remain missing.
