THE Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has banned the Panamanian-flagged 4,250-TEU Costanza from Australian ports for three months for underpaying crewmen, reports Ventura, California's gCaptain.
AMSA boarded the Constanza for a routine port state control inspection and to investigate a complaint from the International Transport Federation (ITF) about underpayment of seafarer wages.
During the inspection, AMSA inspectors found evidence that the crew was owed US$72,700 in wages.
Most of the crew seafarer employment agreements also had a salary amount less than the collective agreement for the vessel.
The ship was detained for breaches of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).
'Taking financial advantage of seafarers in this way is nothing short of exploitation,' said AMSA executive director of operations, Michael Drake.
'The majority of industry operators do the right thing by their seafarers, but for the few who do not, consider this a reminder that you will be held accountable.'
'We do not tolerate the exploitation of seafarers in our waters,' said Mr Drake.
SeaNews Turkey
AMSA boarded the Constanza for a routine port state control inspection and to investigate a complaint from the International Transport Federation (ITF) about underpayment of seafarer wages.
During the inspection, AMSA inspectors found evidence that the crew was owed US$72,700 in wages.
Most of the crew seafarer employment agreements also had a salary amount less than the collective agreement for the vessel.
The ship was detained for breaches of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).
'Taking financial advantage of seafarers in this way is nothing short of exploitation,' said AMSA executive director of operations, Michael Drake.
'The majority of industry operators do the right thing by their seafarers, but for the few who do not, consider this a reminder that you will be held accountable.'
'We do not tolerate the exploitation of seafarers in our waters,' said Mr Drake.
SeaNews Turkey