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25.01.2022 MUA Press Release: World Maritime Day World Maritime Day is today recognising the invaluable efforts of millions of seafarers, dockers, ferry and port workers ...to keep global supply chains operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, while highlighting the plight of hundreds of thousands seafarers who have been unable to return home to their families due to the crisis. Organised by the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization, the event shines a spotlight on the vital role of maritime workers in Australia’s security and economic success. The Maritime Union of Australia said that with more than 98 per cent of Australia’s imports and exports carried by sea, the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the urgent need to reinvigorate the nation’s domestic shipping industry. MUA national secretary and International Transport Workers' Federation president Paddy Crumlin said this year had demonstrated the absolutely essential work of seafarers and dockers, who are ensuring vital medical supplies and essential household goods continue to arrive in Australia. As the COVID-19 pandemic threatened global supply chains, the importance of maritime workers was thrust into the spotlight, with their hard work responsible for keeping fuel, food, and other essential goods flowing, Mr Crumlin said. Without the efforts of maritime workers, Australia’s economy would have collapsed, our health system would have run critically short of equipment, households would have been unable to access essential products, and our resources and manufactured goods would not have been exported to the world. This invisible workforce responsible for keeping our island nation operating now faces their own crisis, with hundreds of thousands stuck onboard ships, in some cases for up to 18 months, unable to return to their families due to border closures and a lack of government efforts to repatriate them. The Australian Government must do more to address this humanitarian crisis by facilitating the movement of international seafarers through the country so crew changes can once again take place. Mr Crumlin said World Maritime Day also highlighted the need to revitalise Australia’s shipping industry, including by creating a strategic fleet of Australian-flagged vessels crewed by Australian workers that can improve our sovereign self-sufficiency and the security for our nation’s fuel and supply capabilities. As an island nation, maritime trade keeps the economy ticking, but very few large trading vessels still fly the Australian red ensign, which has undermined our economic sovereignty as supply chains become increasingly reliant on foreign owned, crewed and flagged ships, he said. A smart island nation needs a strong merchant navy a lesson highlighted by this global pandemic. As the number of Australian-crewed vessels declines, not only are quality jobs lost, but our country is left vulnerable to global shocks that can disrupt maritime trade. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack put out a statement today honouring Australian seafarers in the same week that he released a discussion paper seeking to further deregulate Australian shipping and destroy our industry. This discussion paper is a further step in building on the government's negligence and abandonment of the national interest under the current policy settings which ignore the lessons of COVID and fuel security. Decades of neglect have seen the industry hollowed out, leaving Australia almost entirely dependent on foreign flag-of-convenience vessels, often registered in tax havens and crewed by exploited visa workers on as little as $2 per hour, to move cargo around the coast. https://www.mua.org.au//world-maritime-day-highlights-vita

24.01.2022 The cargo ship that lost dozens of containers in rough seas off Sydney in May, littering the NSW coast with surgical masks and other debris, had heavily corroded deck structures, a safety report has found. https://www.smh.com.au//cargo-spill-ship-had-heavily-corro

23.01.2022 Pilbara Ports boss warns tired and stressed crews increasing risk of shipping catastrophe https://www.smh.com.au//pilbara-ports-boss-warns-tired-and

22.01.2022 Retired icebreaker to be saved from scrap heap, revamped and repurposed Australia’s Antarctic icebreaker for the past 30 years, the Aurora Australis, has been saved from the scrap heap and will instead be given a new lease of life, The Australian can reveal. The ship, which underpinned Australia’s Antarctic program from 1989 until March this year, was destined to be sold for scrap, after a deal with the Argentine Antarctic program fell through.... However, The Australian has confirmed the ship, one of the last large steel-hulled passenger vessels made in Australia, will be retained by owners P&O Maritime Logistics after a long evaluation process. The company will give the beloved vessel, widely known as the ‘Orange Roughy’, a five-year maintenance overhaul at its shipyards in Dubai and then lease or sell it, most likely for polar work. https://www.theaustralian.com.au//57c36bdafd6e1c0cb4066f49

21.01.2022 Today we banned the Panama-flagged bulk carrier AC Sesoda for deliberately underpaying its crew by more than AUD $118,000. We boarded the ship at Mourilyan QLD ...last Thursday to investigate allegations about underpayment. During our investigation, evidence confirmed that a number of crew had only been paid half of their wages since October 2019. The ship’s master and Taiwanese operator, Sincere Industrial Corporation, attempted to conceal the underpayment from our inspectors by only producing a fabricated wage record. We detained the ship and the operator was directed to pay the outstanding wages. Since then, we've received evidence that crew had been paid the outstanding wages and a rectification action plan developed by the operator. The ship was released from detention and issued with a 12-month ban, prohibiting it from entering an Australian port. This is the fourth ship that we have banned this year for serious and shameful breaches of the Maritime Labour Convention. Collectively, the seafarers on these four ships were underpaid in excess of $290,000, funds which were recovered through our actions. We send a simple message to operators: Pay your crew properly, treat them respectfully and comply with the requirements of the MLC or you will not be welcome in Australia. Read more: http://ow.ly/2tmK50BtcwF

18.01.2022 Such a sad loss. The last australian ship built in the Newcastle, NSW shipyard. 30 years loyal service. 'Gobsmackingly beautiful': What lies ahead for decommissioned icebreaker Aurora Australis? http://www.abc.net.au//icebreaker-aurora-australi/12660972

17.01.2022 Today is Merchant Navy Day. We remember the more than 800 Australian merchant mariners who died serving Australia in the World Wars, as well as all those who h...ave worked and still do work to transport vital goods and supplies to our nation. For an island nation like Australia, our merchant mariners are critical. Australia relies on shipping to move 99 per cent of our imports and exports, including fuel. In past times of crisis, Australia has always been able to call on Australian-flagged and Australian-crewed ships to answer the call. Despite this, Australia is now in a situation where less than half a per cent of our seaborne trade is carried by Australian ships, and that percentage is rapidly heading towards zero. In just 30 years the number of Australian-flagged vessels has shrunk from 100 to barely over ten. By comparison, Norway has 519 vessels carrying the Norwegian flag, the United Kingdom has 1157 flagged vessels and China has 4608 flagged vessels. On Merchant Navy Day, we should all remember the sacrifices our merchant mariners have made for our country in the past, and commit to securing a stronger future for Australian shipping.

15.01.2022 Well done to the Maritime Union of Australia - MUA Crew on board the RTM Twarra CIR Mike Sheehan Op Cat Alistair Smith CC Keith Norrie IR Glenn Smart IR Caradi Miller IR James Wijayaratnam IR Paul Langford TIR Rob Kennard And the AIMPE - Australian Institute of Marine & Power Engineers and AMOU members Highly skilled Australian seafarers to the rescue. ... https://www.abc.net.au//catamaran-sinks-off-glads/12677712

13.01.2022 Aussie cargo ship crews ‘are a must’ PREMIER MARK MCGOWAN HAS RESPONDED TO THE ARRIVAL OF CORONAVIRUS-INFECTED FOREIGN NATIONALS ON LIVESTOCK AND IRON ORE VESSELS BY CALLING FOR SHIPPING COMPANIES TO USE AUSTRALIAN CREWS. https://www.theaustralian.com.au//8b4f6c4406f4b2c13d234bbe

11.01.2022 Today is World Maritime Day. We thank all our maritime workers, keeping freight moving during the pandemic.

11.01.2022 Retired icebreaker to be saved from scrap heap, revamped and repurposed Australia’s Antarctic icebreaker for the past 30 years, the Aurora Australis, has been saved from the scrap heap and will instead be given a new lease of life, The Australian can reveal. The ship, which underpinned Australia’s Antarctic program from 1989 until March this year, was destined to be sold for scrap, after a deal with the Argentine Antarctic program fell through.... However, The Australian has confirmed the ship, one of the last large steel-hulled passenger vessels made in Australia, will be retained by owners P&O Maritime Logistics after a long evaluation process. The company will give the beloved vessel, widely known as the ‘Orange Roughy’, a five-year maintenance overhaul at its shipyards in Dubai and then lease or sell it, most likely for polar work. https://www.theaustralian.com.au//57c36bdafd6e1c0cb4066f49

10.01.2022 Maritime Union of New Zealand campaigning to save their shipping industry

09.01.2022 A comprehensive plan would include ships!

06.01.2022 I spoke in the house today on behalf of workers - workers like Warren Sunderland from Bermagui who are facing the very real prospect of losing their jobs thanks... to the mismanagement of border closures. Warren is a merchant seaman who has been in Bass Strait for the past four weeks working on a platform supply vessel. Warren goes to work so that gas can be delivered to Victoria and NSW. Despite having all the required paperwork, Warren is currently in two weeks of quarantine in Sydney, five hours from his partner and five kids back home. Warren's workmates from the ACT, Victoria and Queensland are able to go to and from work and home without the same restrictions. Even worse, as a casual worker, Warren is now worried he’ll lose his job. When the national cabinet meets this week, critical workers from Eden Monaro and NSW need to be on the agenda, they are crying out for a common-sense approach - their jobs depend on it. I believe we can ensure the health and safety of our communinities while balancing the economic drivers that keep local families and towns afloat.

03.01.2022 More than 60 ships carrying Australian coal have been stranded at sea some for months while waiting to enter Chinese ports, according to analysts, with the Morrison government being urged to clarify the long delays. Dozens of vessels are being kept waiting, according to the global commodity and energy price reporting agency Argus, which has been tracking the situation. https://www.theguardian.com//more-than-60-australian-coal-

01.01.2022 U.S. House Passes Bill Supporting Jones Act Enforcement in Offshore Wind https://gcaptain.com/bipartisan-bill-energizing-american-s/