Bulk carrier banned from Australian waters over unpaid wages

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is warning maritime employers that failure to meet minimum standards for seafarers’ living and working conditions may result in serious consequences.

Employers are required to provide the timely payment of wages, safe accommodation, adequate rest and access to support, in line with their obligations under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).

Last week, AMSA boarded a bulk carrier when it docked in Newcastle and conducted a comprehensive inspection.

AMSA identified multiple issues, the authority said, including defects for underpayment of crew wages, insufficient food and not providing free drinking water for seafarers, and subsequently detained the ship for unseaworthiness and being substandard.

AMSA found that the crew had not been paid for almost seven months,