The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has delivered an unequivocal message to shipping industry delinquents that the mistreatment of workers will not stand. This resolution has taken concrete form with the imposition of a one-year ban on a bulker owned and managed by Chinese operators. AMSA outlined serious allegations of seafarer abuse and wage deprivation, marking a new benchmark in its campaign to uproot unsafe and inhumane practices aboard ships in Australian waters.
AMSA Upholding Safety Measures and Seafarer Welfare
AMSA continues its relentless quest of upholding safety and seafarer welfare on all vessels venturing into Australian waters. Already in 2023, AMSA has issued six denials of access determinations, with the previous five pertaining to maintenance lapses. Determined to uphold consistent ship safety standards and augment the overall shipping milieu, AMSA boasts a significant increase in bans, from two in 2022 to four in 2021. Over the past decade, their records reveal a staggering 32 ships that have been shunned from docking on Australian shores.
Liberian-Flagged Bulker in the Eye of the Storm
The latest disclosure brings the spotlight onto the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, the MSXT Emily. The 85,267 dwt bulk carrier, constructed in 2022, is reportedly owned by the Chinese enterprise, Fortune Equity Carriers, and managed by MSM Ship Management Pte Ltd., another Chinese firm. Operating under Japan’s “K” Line charter, it was headed to Australia for a coal load when interior malpractices were unearthed due to a tip-off from the International Transport Workers’ Federation.
Widespread Violations Unearthed
According to AMSA, its inquiry into the matter uncovered numerous instances of seafarers’ rights being violated aboard the vessel. Michael Drake, AMSA’s Executive Director of Operations, did not mince words when addressing the issue. He detested the abhorrent working conditions, noting wage theft, forgery, and coercion. More alarming was the discovery that the seafarers on Emily were owed salaries exceeding US$77,000, with attempts to clear the dues cropping up only after the Chinese operators learned about AMSA’s presence onboard.
Evidence of Concealed Wage Theft and Contract Violations
AMSA’s disheartening revelation did not just stop at unpaid wages. It went further to condemn the vessel’s manager for alleged repeated wage theft cover-ups. Supporting this allegation further, AMSA found instances of manipulated employee contracts and coerced agreement signing for lower remunerations. In a distressing case, one seafarer was found to have signed for a 50 percent decrease in wages, despite having four months remaining on his valid contract.
AMSA Comments ITF, Asserts Further Scrutiny
Grateful to the ITF for the whistleblower tip-off, AMSA is intensifying its scrutiny of vessels entering Australian waters. The one-year ban is not just an isolated incident. Rather, it serves as a stern warning to shipping operators globally: prioritize seafarers’ welfare, or face the consequences as several other vessels have already experienced under AMSA’s resolute enforcement.
