The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has banned a Singapore-controlled bulker for six months for what it called a "shameful breach" of pay rules.
The Singapore-flagged, 31,000-dwt Western Callao (built 2015) was inspected at Port Adelaide in South Australia on 6 September after AMSA received a complaint regarding the underpayment of seafarers and repatriation issues.
During this check, AMSA found evidence that the employment agreement with the 13 seafarers on board the ship had not been met, and that the crew members were collectively owed about AUD 40,000 ($28,900).
Inspectors also found evidence that the crew members had been on board for more than a year, despite ongoing commitments to get them home at the end of their original nine-month contracts.
AMSA detained the ship for multiple breaches of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) and the operator, named as technical manager Bright Star Shipmanagement of the Philippines, was directed to pay the outstanding wages.
The ship is listed as owned by Grace Ocean of Singapore, a Mitsui & Co group company. Mitsui & Co has been contacted for comment.
The Western Callao was later allowed to sail to Brisbane for a crew change, under quarantine conditions approved by Queensland Health.
Crew paid after intervention
AMSA has now received evidence that the crew had been paid.
The safety body's executive director of operations, Michael Drake, said it was not the first time Bright Star had been caught in a breach of the MLC.
"In July 2020, AMSA inspected the Western Callao in Port Kembla, NSW, finding that eight seafarers had been on board for more than 11 months," he added.
Another company ship, the 37,100-dwt Furness Southern Cross (built 2014), was found to have 10 seafarers on board for more than 14 months, Drake said.
This bulker is also owned by Grace Ocean.
Serious and shameful
"This is the third ship that we have banned this year for serious and shameful breaches of the Maritime Labour Convention," the executive director added.
He said Australia has zero tolerance for the underpayment of crew.
"This type of behaviour is unethical and in complete contravention to the Maritime Labour Convention. The international conventions that protect seafarers’ rights are very clear," he added.
Drake put visiting ships on notice that they can expect penalties if AMSA finds deliberate underpaying of crew and attempts to deceive the authorities.
In May, AMSA slapped a three-year ban on an Aswan Shipping bulker in response to major safety and maintenance issues, along with crew welfare abuses.
The length of the ban for the 97,000-dwt Maryam (built 2004) was a record.
The Maryam was one of two Aswan ships whose crews called in the ITF at the beginning of the year to help with a litany of problems ranging from unsafe working and living conditions to unpaid wages and other Maritime Labour Convention abuses, including expired contracts.
The crews did not just want the issues resolved, they also demanded they be sent home.
