ITF Australia rescues ship's crew

Date: 10 August 2008

Three day stand-off wins the day for abused crew on board flag of convenience ship in Whyalla.

Four Turkish crew from a ship docked in Whyalla are now safely ashore after a tense stand-off between the unions and the vessel's officers.

The crew called for help over the weekend saying they were being subjected to physical and psychological abuse aboard the FoC vessel Cape Eregli.

ITF Australia co-ordinator Dean Summers and ITF inspector Matt Purcell worked with branch official Clem Clothier to successfully bring the crew to safety.

"We fear that something might happen to the crew," Clem told the local media. "Their lives are in jeopardy. Between here and China is a long way and they can get rid of them in between."

One crew member even threatened self-harm if he wasn't allowed to disembark.

"They're holding people against their will, this is a human rights issue," said Dan Wakeling, MUA, Whyalla.

The Turkish ship is flying a Marshall Islands flag of convenience and now has 18 Indian and two Turkish crew.

"While people employed on deregulated ships work in a tough environment, they at least have the right to escape all forms of abuse," said Dean Summers, ITF Australia co-ordinator.

"Australian government and industry must take a tougher stand against those who seek to exploit and harm international seafarers employed to take our precious exports to market.

"The answer is improving the vetting standards in Australia and only using reputable, reliable and responsible operators," he said.

The master of the ship is now refusing to pay wages owing to the four seafarers,.

Each of them are owed US$3000 or more, depending on their rank.

For further information

Union:	Maritime Union of Australia
Phone:	+61 2 9267 9134
Email:	muano@mua.org.au
WWW:	http://mua.org.au/

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]