AMSA has detained the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Anna Elisabeth after an inspection revealed a number of deficiencies relating to the working conditions of the crew under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006.
AMSA inspected the vessel at Port Kembla on 26 March after receiving a complaint from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) raising concerns about the welfare of the crew.
Once on board, the AMSA surveyor discovered a number of deficiencies including:
- Vessel not crewed in accordance with the minimum safe manning document
- Seafarer Employment Agreements
- No access to shore leave granted
- Rescue boat davit not fully operational
- Insufficient food provisions on board for length of journey
The ship operators have procured further food supplies ensuring that there were sufficient provisions on board the ship.
The vessel has been detained until the remaining deficiencies are rectified by the operator in consultation with their Flag state administration.
The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 is an international convention developed under the International Labour Organization. It sets out modern standards relating to the working and living conditions of seafarers at sea.
All Australian registered and foreign flagged vessels within Australian waters must comply with the standards set out in the MLC.
AMSA’s General Manager of Ship Safety, Allan Schwartz, said that the proper treatment of seafarers is just as important as the proper maintenance of ships’ equipment - a failure in either system can lead to serious accidents.
“All ships in Australian waters need to comply with Australian standards,” Mr Schwartz said.
“Seafarers live difficult lives often spending many months at sea away from their families and friends. Any vessel which is found to be in breach of the MLC or other Australian standards will be detained by AMSA and repeat offenders risk being banned from Australian waters.”