(Staff article from The ABC NEWS on 31 July 2020.)
Eleven crew from Myanmar have been
taken off the ship and transferred to Sydney, after Australian Border Force and
NSW Police were called to Kooragang Island where the Unison Jasper is docked. With
their suitcases packed and masks on, the crew members waited several hours
while police coordinated exemptions so they could be transferred to a hotel for
quarantine and then eventually flown home.
According to the International Transport Workers' Federation, the crew members were desperate to return home. When the ship arrived in Newcastle this week, union representatives boarded and said they found documents showing the seafarers were in some cases only being paid a quarter of what they were due.
Some
of the crew said they had been forced to sign extensions to their contracts. ITWF
national coordinator Dean Summers said this was common and happening worldwide.
"They're a casualty of what's happening with the world's shipping, but
more acutely these seafarers have been on board for 14 months without a day
off; in fact, 14 months without stepping foot off that ship," he said.
Crew
change complications: International coronavirus-related restrictions have made
it difficult to change crew aboard ships, but AMSA has issued a notice saying
that seafarers cannot be forced to sign extensions to their contracts if they
want to be repatriated.
AMSA said it had detained the bulk
carrier over potential serious deficiencies, including repatriation of
seafarers. The Taiwanese-owned ship sails under a Hong Kong flag and is
captained by Chinese officers with a Myanmarese crew. It has been operating
under a Federal Government licence, sailing from port to port along the
Australian coast; it arrived in Newcastle with a cargo of alumina for Tomago
Aluminium.
Tomago
chief executive Matt Howell said the company was not responsible for the ship's
operation but he was very concerned by the allegations. He said if the reports
were correct, his company would be absolutely appalled and expected the ship's
owners to comply with the law in all respects. The ABC has asked the ship's
owners, Unison Marine Corporation, for comment.
How they change the crew of bulk carrier in Australia
Two
incidents with two bulk carriers occurred in Australia recently, with all usual
stuff – “underpayment”, ITF, Maritime Union of Australia MUA, AMSA and biased
media. I will skip “underpayment” part of the story, and with that, the first
incident, in which AMSA has banned bulk carrier TW HAMBURG from Australian
ports for 12 months.
As
well, I won’t go into underpayment part of another story, involving bulk
carrier UNISON JASPER. There’s absolutely no meaning, no sense, in writing
about “underpayment” cases, as long as they are instigated by ITF and its’
minions. We know and hear only what ITF says, we never hear from shipowners.
They’re bad guys, ITF are good guys, and this is it. No media ever, tried to
dig deeper, and interview owners and crews, without trade union goons nearby.
Well,
they’re all – media and good trade union fellas – the same, part of a “new
bolschevik normal”, nothing to wonder at. I address shipowners and crews again
– you may, if you dare, if you’re desperate enough to understand, that you have
nothing to lose in “new normal”, send your story to Maritime Bulletin, it will
be published.
Incident
with UNISON JASPER is much more interesting or outrageous, depending on what
side one’s on, whether he’s immersed in “new normal” to the depth of no-return,
or he’s still a rational and sensible human being.
UNISON JASPER had been detained at
Koorgang Island, Newcastle, on Jul 31 by AMSA, after seafarers complained about
being mistreated, fatigued and underpaid. 11 Burmese crew who had come off the
vessel had been taken to Sydney under police escort and were now at a motel
starting 14 days of quarantine. The virus isolation was “a bit ironic seeing
they have been in isolation on the ship for 14 months”, said Australian ITF
coordinator Dean Summer. He said AMSA and ITF were being “pressured” to have
the vessel moved from the Kooragang 3 alumina berth to another wharf.
The
MUA’s national secretary Paddy Crumlin said “This vessel – with seafarers
intimidated, robbed of their wages, and forced to remain on board for up to 14
months – reveals an extreme form of exploitation that has no place in
Australian waters,”. ITWF national coordinator Dean Summers said “…these
seafarers have been on board for 14 months without a day off; in fact, 14
months without stepping foot off that ship,”.
And
now it’s time for questions: Are Australian trade union leaders aware, that
hundreds of ships calling Australia, are having the same problem of crew
change? That there’s no hub in the region, including all East Asia, where crew
changes are possible?
“…
police coordinated exemptions so Burmese crew could be transferred to a hotel
for quarantine and then eventually flown home.” – what about other crews? Can’t
police and all related agencies, coordinate mass exemptions?
Who
and how forced the crew to stay on board? Shipowner sent in team of toughs, to
prevent seamen from stepping foot on land? Or are they (and all other crews of
all other ships) prevented from crew change and land walks, by Australian
authorities? By the way, stepping a foot off the ship in Australia wasn’t all
that easy in pre-pandemic era, either, thanks to AMSA regulations.
As of
morning Aug 4, UNISON JASPER was still berthed at Newcastle. Will Australian
authorities allow new crew to arrive to Australia, and board the ship? If they
will, why don’t they practice it en mass, why do they keep the practice, which
facilitates “extreme form of exploitation”?
What
will happen to Burmese crew who’re now in quarantine? Will they be able to
return home, how and when? Who will pay for their repatriation, if, say, owner
goes bankrupt, thanks to tireless efforts of ITF/MUA/AMSA?
Why
this specific bulk carrier was so brutally attacked? Well, here’s one side of
the story explaining, why Taiwanese owner was targeted:
The MUA’s national secretary Paddy
Crumlin said the UNISON JASPER had been given a temporary licence by Canberra
for the run between Gladstone and Newcastle. The ITF and its affiliate MUA have
long campaigned against the use of foreign ships and crew on coastal voyages
that were traditionally done by Australian vessels and crew before the
deregulation of shipping allowed so-called “flag of convenience” vessels into
the domestic maritime trade.
I
don’t know how justifiable is a long-time struggle against foreign ships in
Australian cabotage, but for all I know, any struggle should be a fair
struggle, not a backstabbing, especially in most demanding times. On the other
hand, there’s no place in “new normal” era for such stupid and obsolete things,
as conscience, courage, fair play, morals, etc.
I said
it many times – NWO is targeting everything independent, be it State or
industry, shipowner or family-owned restaurant. Trade unions, PSCs, maritime
bodies, media and politicians are nothing but weapons in NWO war against
humanity. They’re, essentially, robots, manipulated killer machines, without
brains or will of their own.
Stranded Seafarers Refuse to Sail on Three Ships in Australia
Seafarers
aboard three vessels who’ve been stuck at sea beyond their original contracts
are stalling vessels in Australia, halting work and demanding to be repatriated,
according to the International Transport Workers’ Federation.
Port and border restrictions to halt
the spread of Covid-19 have snarled crew swaps, stranding workers on ships
beyond their original contracts. That’s left about 250,000 seafarers stuck at
increasing risk of physical and mental exhaustion, according to the
International Chamber of Shipping.
The
Conti Stockholm, Ben Rinnes and Unison Jasper vessels are idle and blocking
berths in the ports of Fremantle, Geelong and Newcastle, respectively, the
union said in a statement Thursday. The crews are within their rights to refuse
to sail, the union said.
“These
three ships are just the tip of the iceberg. With international crew change all
but blocked for the last five months – you can expect to see more and more
crews decide to drop anchor and get off in Australia,” ITF Coordinator for
Australia Dean Summers said in the statement. “The consequence for Australia’s
mineral and agricultural exports and flow of imports will be significant. This
is an economic and humanitarian emergency.”
The
Unison Jasper was hauling alumina, according to the ITF. The Ben Rinnes was
chartered by Cargill Inc. to transport soy, it said. “We are frustrated to
learn of crew members being over contract on the Ben Rinnes, which is
unfortunately one of many such cases at the moment,” a spokesperson for Cargill
said, adding that the firm recognizes the challenges that many crew are facing
and is working to try and repatriate them.
Many
of the crew on the Ben Rinnes had been on board for longer than the legal
maximum, and one of the seafarers has been on the ship for more than 17 months,
according to ITF. The crew signed five-month extensions after their nine-month
tour after the vessel owner promised to repatriate them, the union said.
The
Conti Stockholm is at an anchorage in Fremantle while a solution is being is
worked out, according to a spokesperson from the port. The Port of Geelong said
it was working on a statement early Friday. The Unison Jasper is in the port of
Newcastle, however its status is a matter for the Australian Maritime Safety
Authority, a spokesperson for the port said. The Australian Maritime Safety
Authority didn’t immediately respond to emailed questions seeking comment.
Workers exploited on bulk carrier
The bulk carrier Unison Jasper was bringing
alumina to the Tomago Aluminium smelter when it was detained by authorities in
the Port of Newcastle following allegations that crew members were abused,
intimidated and forced to sign contract extensions which would have kept them
on board for up to 14 months, well beyond the legal maximum of 11 months.
The Unison Jasper had been operating
under a temporary license issued by the Australian Government to undertake
coastal shipping between the ports of Gladstone and Newcastle.
Massive
underpayment of wages were discovered when the vessel docked in Brisbane
earlier in July, resulting in crew members being paid $93,000 USD they were
owed. Once the vessel left port, the Burmese seafarers were allegedly
intimidated by ship officers to hand back the wages in question to ship
management. Another $60,000 USD in owed wages has been uncovered by inspectors
from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) in Newcastle.
The
Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and ITF are working with agencies, including
the NSW Police, Border Force, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the
Port of Newcastle, to have the workers paid the wages they are owed and have
them safely repatriated to their home country. The MUA believes that the
captain is in no condition to sail the ship after himself being at sea for 14
months and that the entire crew should be replaced.
MUA
National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said: “What we have seen on this vessel — with
seafarers intimidated, robbed of their wages, and forced to remain on board for
up to 14 months — is an extreme form of exploitation that has no place in
Australian waters, but risks becoming more common as authorities fail to
properly regulate amidst a global crew change crisis.
“Quite frankly, the Australian
Government allowed things to get this bad on the Unison Jasper. They were
clearly unconcerned with the seafarers’ conditions on board when they freely
issued a temporary licence to this ship just last month. This is a ship with
crew who had worked for 13 months — already beyond the legal limit. This vessel
already had complaints lodged to AMSA for serious breaches of seafarers’
rights. Why did they grant it a licence when all the warning signs were there?
“This route was previously serviced by
Australian vessels, crewed by local Australian seafarers, and paid Australian
wages and conditions, but the last remaining Australian vessel on this run, the
CSL Melbourne, was removed from service in 2016. These Australian ships have
been replaced by foreign Flag of Convenience vessels, operating under temporary
licenses from the Federal Government, and crewed by exploited foreign workers.”
Mr
Crumlin said exploitation and abuse on ships often occurs in supply chains when
those who are supposed to be responsible turn a blind eye.
“The
owners of Tomago Aluminium — which include Rio Tinto and CSL — must take action
to address this extreme exploitation in their supply chain. We have the largest
aluminium smelter in Australia, owned by some of the largest companies
operating in the country, allowing abuse and exploitation to occur under their
noses,” he said.
“The
mistreatment of these Burmese seafarers is not only illegal under Australian
law, it is a clear breach of the international Maritime Labour Convention. The
companies which are profiting from exploitation in our waters, and indeed
anywhere, should be held to account.
“In my view, the continued issuing of licenses to Flag of Convenience vessels such as the Unison Jasper, crewed by exploited seafarers, makes our Federal Government complicit in the inevitable abuse that transpires. It’s built into the system.”
Mr
Crumlin said discovery that the crew had been on board for up to 14 months, far
in excess of the Maritime Labour Convention maximum of 11 months, was proof
that the Federal Government was also asleep at the wheel when it came to
regulating Australian shipping and upholding seafarer’s human rights.
“Seven
of the crew members on board the Unison Jasper have been on board for 14 months
with no way to get home, with the remaining four ratings on board too
frightened to re-join the ship,” he said. “Outrageously, the company was
refusing to hand over the seafarers’ passports and was attempting to dictate
terms to the Australian authorities. You have to wonder how we got here.
“Australia
needs to sharpen its response to the unfolding crew change crisis that is
leading to more cases like these. International seafarers need to be able to
leave and join ships at Australian ports. We cannot tolerate floating prisons
in our waters.”
The
number of owners and managers of bulk carriers, who’re afraid of sending their
ships to Australia, is growing. They’re afraid, that their ships will be
detained in ports under absolutely false pretext of violating Maritime Labor
Convention (which is in itself, a shame), and some of crews will be coerced
into going on strike, a suicidal act for both seamen and owners.
An insane practice of comrades
bolscheviks, who’re running Australian maritime trade union and maritime safety
agency, is built on outrageously false allegations and accusations. To listen
to them, one may think, that the world and Australian ports are wide open for
crew changes, and the only reason we have humanitarian crews crisis on our
hands, is these greedy shipowners, who don’t want to change the crews, and keep
crews on board by force.
I
believe Australian bolscheviks aim is twofold, they’re pursuing general agenda
of UN/IMO to eliminate private shipping, and locally, they’re trying to push
out from Australian freight market all foreign companies, with the exception
probably, of major transnational companies. If they succeed, they’ll be the
ones to control Australian shipping, or so they hope.
To
talk about greedy shipowners guilty in everything bad, what is happening on the
planet – media, both mainstream and minor, is playing their nauseating
hypocritical game of being “impartial” and “non-biased”. That is to say, that
they voice one side only – UN/IMO/ILO/ITF/authorities and the rest of them, but
they never allow those who’re guilty by definition, the shipwoners, to have a
say, to explain what really is going on.
It’s
like you know, voicing an advocate hired by a mob, but blotting out mob’s
victims. That’s what modern media call “impartiality”. In situations like the
one we’re having now, it’s not just biased blunder, it’s nothing short of a
crime. Tragedy is unfolding on board of merchant ships worldwide, media
meanwhile, is doing nothing to investigate, to listen to all sides and to come
up with probable solutions, on the contrary, media is pushing a campaign for
worldwide crews strike, which will leave thousands of seamen stranded in ports,
locked on board of ships, without payment and without repatriation
perspectives.
Who’s to pay for repatriation, and
who’s to pay wages? Shipowners will go bankrupt, en mass. Ah yes I forgot,
trade unions and charities will, most probably, provide abandoned crews with
instant noodles and bottled water. Happy now?
One of
industry media outlets recently came up with a thriller story of “some of
charterers and shipowners”, who’re not helping crews in these times of crisis.
How? Some of them, as this outlet was told by somebody, are trying to restrict
internet connection at sea so that seamen won’t be able to share strike
tactics. See?
Bloody
evil, greedy shipowners, they’re to blame. They’re culprits. Instead of
committing joint suicide both by themselves and by crews by means of mass
strikes, they’re trying explain to crews, why such strikes are suicidal, and
not a way out, not a solution. Right now there’s a bulk carrier anchored on Koh
Si Chang Anchorage, Thailand, under command of a Captain, who’s a very old
friend of mine. The ship is offloading coal.
Crew
is overwhelmingly, Filipino. Part of crew were changed in Singapore, several
days ago (he himself, managed to relieve previous Captain on the second
attempt, he had to fly half the world, back and forth, greedy manager paying
for everything including Business Class flights for officers and ranking crew).
The rest may be changed soon, in Manila, so the ship will have to deviate from
her next voyage.
Captain
is having talks with crew, regularly, explaining to them criminal and corrupt
character of trade unions policy and practices, and lies and fakes of media
which support them. And here comes industry outlet, accusing owners and
managers of deploying “dark tactics”, as an excellent illustration. If there’s
an example of backstabbing with capital B, here it is.
I
repeat, I don’t criticize media, trade unions and so-called “maritime
organizations”, because they’re robots, instruments of war, terminators.
There’s no human being left to talk to, to discuss, to dispute, to jointly,
work out a solution. They dump whatever integrity they had, long time ago, in
the name of their despicable carriers and fortunes.
