Working Conditions Aboard the Volga-River

The Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control has revealed recent information regarding the detention of three vessels due to excessive sulphur content in their fuel. Notably, on January 6, 2018, the Marshall Islands-flagged containership "Al Jasrah" was released after a one-day detention at the Port of Rotterdam. Following this, the vessel "Max Winner" was set free on January 10 after a two-day hold at the same port. Subsequently, on January 20, the "Araz River" was also released, having faced detention for five days at the Port of Rotterdam. The Paris MoU, which comprises 27 maritime administrations and oversees the waters of European coastal states along with the North Atlantic basin, is committed to eradicating the operation of sub-standard vessels through an integrated system of port State controls. In total, 63 vessels faced detention within the Paris MoU region during January. The organisation underscores the importance of safety and compliance, conducting over 18,000 inspections on foreign ships each year in its ports.

On February 5, 2016, the Araz River faced a dire situation upon its return to Vasto, resulting in one crew member's unfortunate death and two others requiring urgent medical attention. The ship had departed Vasto after discharging a shipment of chemical solvent when three crew members began the task of clearing the cargo tanks. During this operation, water was introduced to the tanks, triggering a reaction with residual chemical substances and releasing toxic vapors. A 24-year-old sailor suffered a cardiac arrest and died at the scene, while the other two crew members were rushed to the hospital in serious condition. In light of the incident, the Araz River has been detained in Vasto pending further investigations to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.