GREEK shipping company Evalend has been accused by the International Transport Workers' Federation of underpaying and starving its crew onboard a bulk tanker anchored off Australia's Queensland coast.

International Transport Workers' Federation Dean Summers has said the union was contacted by a crew of foreign seafarers on the Villa Deste who claimed that they had not been paid since last year and were being underfed with a food budget of just US$4 per day.



Currently moored off Mackay, the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, the Villa Deste, is set to collect coal from BHP's Hay Point Coal Terminal. The union is demanding access to the ship to check on the worker's welfare, The Australian reported.



'If using hungry, unpaid workers to generate huge profits is where is the bottom line, this abuse of international seafarers would even make an Australian banker blush,' Mr Summers said.



The union has obtained pictures of mouldy looking food allegedly being fed to the crew. However, the shipping company Evalend rejected the allegations, according to the report.



'We have immediately contacted the master of the vessel Villa Deste. The master came back confirming that there are no complaints from the crew, on the contrary crew are very happy with conditions on-board our managed vessel.'



Evalend denied there were any outstanding wages and they were supplied with food and provisions. '(The) master has obtained a written statement from all crew on-board that they are very happy with the company and the vessel.'



'Therefore, we categorically reject any kind of such allegations and we have serious doubts that any one from the crew has contacted the (union).'


WORLD SHIPPING