Russian Seafarers' Union
About
The Russian Seafarers' Union (Российский профсоюз моряков) is an ITF-affiliated trade union that supports Russian and CIS seafarers worldwide. While not a chaplaincy in the religious sense, RPSM operates welfare and advocacy offices in major Russian ports (St Petersburg, Novorossiysk, Vladivostok, Murmansk) and provides legal aid, contract advice, and wage-recovery support to seafarers facing disputes.
Mission
Trade-union representation and welfare support for Russian and CIS-flag seafarers — wage recovery, contract advice, abandonment response.
What to expect at a centre
An RPSM office is more advocacy-focused than a chaplaincy: legal advice, wage-recovery casework, complaints against operators, and family-liaison support. Some offices also offer wifi and casual visiting space.
What to bring
Bring your contract of employment, wage account statements, seaman's book, and any correspondence with the operator. RPSM works through ITF channels for non-Russian-flag wage cases.