If the shipowner does not pay wages for a long time (several months)and the contract is already coming to an endthen in this case the seafarer should first of all write to the name of the Master an application for signing off due to the expiration of the contract and payment of the outstanding wages. If there is no reaction from the shipowner you need to contact the administration of the country of the flag and the Maritime Trade Union. Before leaving the ship it is imperative to require a certificate confirming the outstanding amount of salary. If such a certificate is in the hands of the sailor it will be much easier to prove the fact of non-payment in court.