Maritime authorities in New Zealand have arrested a Wisdom Lines handysize bulker over claims the crew had not been paid for almost four months.
The 34,327-dwt Daiwan Justice (built 2016) was detained on Saturday at Lyttelton following a complaint over unpaid wages.
The detention was lifted later on Saturday after the ship’s operator paid the crew, according to Maritime NZ southern regional compliance manager Michael Vredenburg.
Maritime NZ is reported to have acted on information provided to it by the International Transport Workers’ Federation.
It said it took action under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), which sets out minimum standards for the health, safety and welfare of seafarers, including conditions of employment. It also has provisions for complaints and investigations.
“A maritime officer went on board the vessel to investigate. He interviewed the ship’s master and crew, inspected documents and found evidence that the crew had not been paid,” said Vredenburg.
“When confronted with the evidence the ship’s master admitted the wages had not been paid. The maritime officer then took immediate action to detain the vessel.”
Last year the 34,893-dwt Daiwan Fortune (built 2015), another Wisdom Marine ship, was also detained over unpaid wages.
Vredenburg said Maritime NZ is now considering what compliance actions it may take against Wisdom Marine.
