Working Conditions Aboard the Unity

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has received an alarming report regarding the abandonment of the vessel UNITY (IMO: 9388792). This troubling situation has emerged at the port of Zhoushan in China, where the ship currently lies abandoned under the flag of Zambia. Key Details: - Flag: Zambia - Location: Zhoushan Port, China - Outstanding Wages: 2 months - Crew Size: 22 seafarers - Nationality of Crew: Russian - Date Reported to ITF: March 1, 2026 - Current Status: Open This incident is included in the ITF's Seafarers Abandonment List, a vital resource that monitors and reports on cases of crew abandonment across the globe, ensuring seafarers' rights are respected and upheld.

On August 28, 2025, local authorities in Murmansk took decisive action by detaining the 'Unity', a tanker registered under the flag of Lesotho. This move followed a formal request for port state control from the Seafarers’ Union of Russia (SUR). The detention was prompted by several alarming issues, including substantial wage arrears owed to the crew and a malfunctioning Inmarsat satellite system, along with significant documentation discrepancies concerning the vessel. Upon inspection, state authorities uncovered multiple violations, which led to a refusal to grant the necessary clearance for the tanker to set sail until all issues were appropriately addressed. The 'Unity' has previously faced sanctions imposed by the EU, UK, Switzerland, and other nations, primarily due to its involvement in transporting Russian oil. Crew members reported to the union that they only received their wages from June on July 27, with their July payments still pending. Disturbingly, some sailors who departed the vessel have not yet received final settlements. A report dated August 13 revealed that the vessel’s captain calculated a staggering total wage debt of nearly $90,000 for the 20 crew members. Adding to the complexity of the situation, it was discovered that some crew contracts were established with the Argo Tanker Group LLC (ООО «Арго Танкер Групп»), an entity not legally recognized as the ship owner. Other contracts were linked to FMTC ShipCharter LLC. Alarmingly, a collective agreement purportedly with the Seafarers’ Union of Russia was cited in some contracts but does not actually exist. The sailors also pointed out that the vessel's flag registration in Gambia lapsed on August 5, rendering its insurance policy invalid. New registration documents issued under the Lesotho flag, along with a Pyramid Marine Overseas insurance policy, indicated Petroleum United FZCO as the registry company. Concerns arose among the crew regarding the potential invalidity of their contracts due to the vessel’s flag and registry change, which could hinder their ability to file protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance claims should the ship owner neglect its wage commitments. The 'Unity' has a tumultuous history, having changed names and flag states multiple times since its inception in 2009. Notably, it flew the Russian flag from September 2024 to February 2025. The current operator, Argo Tanker Group LLC, is based in Moscow and is under U.S. sanctions, registered at Presnenskaya Embankment 10, Building 2, Office 139.

On January 23, 2025, the laden aframax tanker 'Unity' encountered significant mechanical issues in the treacherous Bay of Biscay, located off the coast of France. Having set sail from Primorsk on January 16, the vessel was transporting Russian oil destined for Mangalore when it experienced a complete propulsion failure during turbulent conditions overnight. Following its breakdown, 'Unity' was forced to alter its course on January 24, ultimately dropping anchor near the French coastline on January 27 at the coordinates 49° 49' N 000° 56' W. The tanker, which is owned by Argo Tanker Group based in Moscow, was acquired in September 2024 and is now facing critical challenges in some of the Atlantic’s harshest weather.

On November 29, 2024, the tanker 'Unity' was seized at Mundra Port due to outstanding payments for marine spare parts. Guma Tech Marine Services, a Bhavnagar-based supplier that provides reconditioned parts from decommissioned vessels at Alang, initiated the arrest over a debt of $110,000 for parts supplied in June. The 'Unity', which arrived off Mundra on November 25 from Murmansk, was arrested as an associate vessel while fully loaded with Russian crude oil. Notably, this vessel was recently acquired from Comet Maritime & Trading in Turkey in September 2023.