Australian authorities have banned an Aswan Shipping bulker from its waters for 18 months after a two-month detention.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) detained the 91,800-dwt bulker Movers 3 (built 2002) in early March by for failing to carry out important regular surveys of the ship, and for what was described as “appalling working and living conditions” on board.
AMSA deputy chief executive officer Sachi Wimmer said Aswan Shipping had shown a “complete disregard” for its obligations to provide decent working and living conditions for its seafarers.
“Aswan Shipping’s neglect has resulted in a difficult two months for the seafarers on Movers 3, let alone the effort required by many organisations to support them during this time,” Wimmer said.
“We are holding Aswan Shipping accountable; it needs to step-up and fulfil its obligations as a ship owner and operate responsibly if it wants to trade in Australian ports in the future.”
Wimmer said the banning of the Movers 3 should serve as a “stark reminder” to the maritime industry that AMSA will not tolerate or accept sub-standard ships in Australian waters.
Another of Aswan Shipping’s ships, the 97,000-dwt bulker Maryam (built 2004), is still under detention in Port Kembla for similar issues after being inspected by AMSA back on 19 February 2021.
Outstanding issues
AMSA said it “continues to work with all parties involved with resolving the outstanding issues with Maryam”.
In late March, TradeWinds reported that the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) had called for Australia to ban the ships over the serious technical problems and labour rights issues.
Inspections unearthed an assortment of troubles ranging from faulty engines and generators, no fuel or food and wage issues that left crews with reportedly no alternative but to call in the ITF to help them with their plight.
A portable generator had to be brought in to provide power to the vessel, and Port Authority New South Wales stepped in to provide fuel, food and bottled water.
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) also clarified earlier reports that Rio Tinto was responsible for the chartering of the Mover 3.
“The bulk carrier is not part of Rio Tinto’s supply chain and was instead chartered by one of the mining company’s customers to transport bauxite from Australian to China,” it said.
The MUA added that despite not being the charterer of the Movers 3, Rio Tinto had been “proactive in trying to resolve the situation facing the seafarers onboard the vessel”.
“The MUA and ITF are seeking to work proactively with Rio Tinto to ensure that human rights and living conditions become key measurements in the vetting systems used to identify suitable ships that may be utilised in the Rio Tinto supply chain,” the MUA added.
Australia frequently issues six-month bans on ships and companies that have breached the Maritime Labour Convention or failed more than one port state control inspection.
AMSA recently launched a campaign against substandard livestock carriers, and in one case, banned a vessel for two years.
