AMSA detains a bulker in Newcastle for unpaid wages, imposing a six-month ban to uphold seafarer rights and safety standards.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has detained a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier in Newcastle and banned it from Australian ports for six months after finding unpaid crew wages and multiple deficiencies, reported Denmark's Shipping Telegraph.
AMSA stated that the action followed a complaint indicating that seafarers had not been paid for two months. Inspectors discovered that eight crew members were owed US$46,334 in wages and identified 18 deficiencies, four of which were serious enough to warrant detention.
Once the deficiencies were rectified, the vessel was ordered not to enter Australian waters until September 4. AMSA noted that the enforcement was taken under the Maritime Labour Convention, which mandates timely payment of wages, safe accommodation, adequate rest, and access to support.
AMSA's acting executive director of operations, Greg Witherall, emphasized that the ban underscores the authority's commitment to protecting seafarer welfare. He added that seafarers keep global trade moving and have a right to be paid and treated with respect, and AMSA will act decisively when welfare is at risk.
