Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Hildasay

On the morning of June 27, 2018, the vessel 'Hildasay' experienced an allision with a pier while navigating the port of Lerwick at 8:08 AM. This incident occurred shortly after the ship had set sail from Aberdeen the previous evening, June 26, at 7:30 PM. The collision resulted in damage to the bow of the ship above the water line, prompting immediate repair efforts at the scene. After completing the necessary repairs, the 'Hildasay' departed Lerwick on June 29 at 7:30 PM, making its way back to Aberdeen. The ship successfully arrived at its destination on June 30 at 8:30 AM, docking at the Commercial Quay for further assessments. For visual reference, a photograph of the allision is available at [Shipspotting](http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2875703).

An important agreement has been finalized concerning the wages of workers on the Northern Isles freight vessels, paving the way for services to revert to operator Serco NorthLink. On Thursday, Scottish transport minister Humza Yousaf announced that the new pay arrangement will be effective from February, ensuring that workers will earn a minimum of the UK national wage instead of the previously reported rates as low as £4.50 per hour. While the transport union RMT has expressed that this agreement in principle is a "positive initial move," they will continue to advocate for Serco NorthLink to extend equal wages to freight staff, comparable to those on its passenger vessels. Notably, the RMT previously highlighted that approximately 20 foreign workers aboard the publicly-funded vessels Helliar and Hildasay were receiving pay rates that fell £2-3 below the minimum wage due to policies by subcontractor Seatruck. Seatruck, in its defense, indicated that it was authorized to offer wages below the minimum as these ships are not flagged in the UK and the affected personnel are not UK residents.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf is taking decisive action regarding alarming wage claims from union representatives concerning crew members on Northern Isles cargo vessels. Reports from the RMT union indicate that employees aboard the freight ships Helliar and Hildasay, operated by Seatruck and engaged by Serco NorthLink, are receiving wages alarmingly below £4 per hour. The union has expressed intentions to escalate their actions should the Scottish Government not uphold its commitment to improve the situation. In a statement, Transport Scotland emphasized that Minister Yousaf intends to continue discussions with both Serco NorthLink and Seatruck, as well as the UK Government, to address this pressing issue. A spokesperson remarked, "Scottish ministers firmly believe that all workers engaged under Scottish Government-funded contracts, including sub-contracts, deserve at least the national minimum wage, if not the life-sustaining living wage. The current conditions related to Seatruck are deemed unacceptable." To remedy the situation, the Minister for Transport and the Islands will urge Serco NorthLink Ferries to reach out once more to Seatruck, reiterating the offer to cover the shortfall in wages to bring crew pay up to the national minimum wage. Additionally, Minister Yousaf will formally write to the UK Government, urging them to take necessary actions. The RMT union has raised concerns that approximately 20 European workers aboard the Helliar and Hildasay vessels have been receiving wages as low as £3.66 per hour, falling short of the UK’s national minimum wage for several years. This situation underscores the ongoing challenges of fair labor practices in the maritime sector.