MSC has taken a Vega Reederei-managed containership off-hire after it was barred from Australia.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) banned the 1,118-teu MSC Kia Ora (built 2006) for three months for failing to ensure crew were paid in full and on time, and that critical equipment was maintained.
AMSA inspected the ship in Brisbane on 14 March after receiving a complaint which alleged that crew had been underpaid.
It found evidence of underpayment for the previous four months. The seafarers were owed more than AUD 53,000 ($41,000).
The outstanding wages had been transferred to the crew just 24 hours before the inspection, AMSA said.
“Failure to pay crew their wages in full and on time is a clear and unacceptable breach of the Maritime Labour Convention,” AMSA’s general manager of operations Allan Schwartz said.
Not enough rest
Further breaches of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) were also found during the inspection, relating to hours of rest and fitness for duty.
The inspection also revealed that two of the ship’s four generators were defective as well as the starboard main engine fire damper. In total, 24 deficiencies were found.
The ship was reinspected on Sunday, and AMSA said all detainable deficiencies had been rectified.
It was released from detention with a ban in place.
Another Vega Reederei vessel was banned by AMSA in 2014, it added.
Vega has been contacted for comment.
“Sub-standard and poorly managed ships that place the welfare of their crews at risk will not be tolerated in Australian waters,” Schwartz said.
MSC told TradeWinds it is a "responsible employer" and does not oversee the maintenance, or the workforce, of the chartered vessel.
"MSC is not the target of a recent Australian Maritime Safety Authority instruction about crew wages: this is directed to the owner of this vessel. The vessel was off-hired immediately upon MSC becoming aware of the AMSA findings."
It added: "MSC has a 98% crew retention rate on the ships it owns and manages, thanks largely to the good working conditions, regular pay and best-in-class training opportunities for the crew MSC employs directly.”
Equasis lists the owner of the ship as CF Lustre II LLC.
