Bulkers trading between the Far East and Australia could be forced divert to the Philippines to change crew or face port-state control detention.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it will enforce strict new rules on crew length of service starting today.
AMSA is no longer overlooking Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) violations involving seafarers working beyond their contracted period, in a bid to force shipowners to repatriate increasingly overworked, stressed and homesick crew.
Shipowners have blamed governments for not facilitating crew exchange during the international travel restrictions put in place during the coronavirus pandemic.
But now it appears governments are getting tough on shipowners employing crew beyond their contracted period.
AMSA has said its PSC inspectors will now detain ships with crew working beyond 14 months on board ships.
New rules
Under new regulations, AMSA will take no action against crew continuously employed on a vessel for up to 11 months, the normal length of employment under crew contracts.
However, on ships where the crew are found to be working between 11 months and 13 months, the ship’s master will have to provide a detailed flag state-approved plan on repatriating crew.
If such a plan cannot be provided, or crew are employed beyond 14 months, then the vessel will be prevented from leaving port.
Up to 150,000 seafarers are believed to have been working beyond their contracted period because the travel and quarantine restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus have prevented them from returning home.
However, the number working more than 14 months is likely to be well below that figure.
In a statement, the AMSA said that in the interest of crew welfare it could no longer overlook MLC violations.
'While this flexibility has been essential to supporting international trade, it cannot continue indefinitely, as it will increasingly affect maritime safety and seafarer welfare. There is a limit to reasonable continuous periods of service,” the agency said.
The new Australian rules on length of crew employment will run until October 2020.
The country is the world’s largest exporter of iron ore and coal to China, South Korea and Japan and the Australia to Far East run is one of shipping's busiest trade lanes.
Diversions
Japanese operators involved in the Far East trade revealed in some cases that ships are diverting to ports in the Philippines on the way to Australia, as it is often the only way to conduct crew exchange amid continued international travel chaos.
However, strict travel restrictions remain in place within the Philippines preventing crew from getting home even once in their own country.
The Australian development is another indication that PSC authorities are becoming less inclined to allow MLC violations in consideration of the unique conditions thrown up by the coronavirus pandemic.
As earlier reported by TradeWinds, the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency recently detained five Global Cruise Lines ships for MLC violations involving crew contracts.
Shipping's largest union, the International Transport Workers' Federation, has also said that crew should no longer be forced to work beyond their contracted employment.
