foc

[len mazza]

With so many Brits now living on the Continet,the thought crossed my mind about FOC wages.
Would,say Ch/Ck,or Bosun be able to live in Spain or Portugal on FOC. wages,seems as if both of those countries could nigh on be classed as third world at the moment.

Len.

[j.sabourn]

Len, not so much the flag. Its the owner, could be any nationality including British. The lowest wages I have seen are the Russians, The philipinos, the Indonesians. Unless you lived in their countrys doubt if you would survive elsewhere. Cheers John Sabourn.

[Capt Bill Davies]

John,

That's not the whole story. The owner will arrange for crew through his manning agent. The manning agent will have negotiated an agreement through the ITF affiliated Union in the Ukraine, Manila et al. Once this has been done the crew are supplied complete with 'Blue Card' which tells various Unions in ports that the ship is cleared by the ITF.

Len,

There used to be rumours circulating years ago by the NUS and similar which were quite derogatory about our fellow Filipino/Far Eastern colleagues which amounted to them working for 'a bowl of rice a day' or ' pay them peanuts and what do you get' .
I never witnessed poor pay to any crew I sailed with and I can say that from a position of commanding vessels, some often the largest and sophisticated ships afloat from 11/69 to 04/05.

To give you a taster, a filipino AB sailing under AMOSUP (where a Blue Card ) is issued will be on around USD 1700.00 per month (all in). His Russian colleague will be on slightly more, maybe USD 2000.00.

Filipino/Russian Masters and Ch.Engineers are on inxs of USD 6000.00 per month.

Brgds

Bill

[j.sabourn]

Bill was referring to Russian, Philipino, and Indonesian flagged vessels. I sailed as Master on a Russian Ship, the Russian Master was on about 100 pounds a month and this was in 1998. The ITF had no jurisdiction on this. I was employed as well as the Australian crew, through the Australian Agreements and which I have never seen better . Regards John Sabourn.