CREW CONDITIONS IN THE SOVIET MERCHANT MARINE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R006200760012-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 24, 2001
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: November 24, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

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Crew Conditions in the Soviet, .4erchant Marine
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The average Soviet merchant vessel used in overseas traffic has a crew con-
sisting of a captain, three mates, three en,. i.neers, one radio operator,
eight to twelve trimmers, and three shifts of first and second class seamen,
A captain is paid, about 900 rubles monthly, the three mates are paid 800,
700,and 600 rubies monthly, while the first engineer is somewhat better
paid than either the second or third mates. Trirn3ers are paid 550 rubles
a month, first class seamen 502 rubles, and second class seamen 465 rubles
* month., From these salaries the ere,,,-.men pay a base tax of six percent, with
childless men paying an additional six percent tax, A "volLrntary" var loan
of ten percent is also deducted from all salaries, and the "good" &>viet
citizen is expected to purchase loan coupons valued at about two months,
wages during any year. Union ucu ye take an additional one :percent from salaries
and Communist party members pay another deduction, '
Both seamen and fisherman are thought of as well-
paid. and having more freedom than other professions.
All crew members area given two hours' political training each week,
Discipline aboard ship, in termed "satisfactory" Any offense which results
in darnage to the vessel is dealt with in courts as sabotage, In foreign
ports the member of tha crew are allowed ashore only in groups, with one
man always appointed leader of a group. This man must see that the group
is always together grad that all men return to the ship on time, He is
responsible to the ship. s political officer. In foreign ports the cr^et?mien
are forbidden to nail letters or to accept letters from strangers for post-
ing in the USSFCn
On shipboard the cr.-,.- works four hours and has eight hours free; in new
ships there are two ren to a cabin, while on older ships there can be up
to seven men in a cabin. Breakfast is served between 07 and 0800, lunch
between 1200 and 1300, and dinner between 1600 and 170 Y f e crew is given
tea at s bolt 2000 ho
urs
Approved For Release 2001/03/05: CIA-RDP82-00457R006200760012-1