Published: 8 Mar 2011
There are growing concerns for the welfare of crew aboard the Flag of Convenience (FOC) Bader 3 now in its 13th day alongside at Fremantle’s Victoria Quay E berth.
Eighty international crew members have been forbidden to leave the ship for a fortnight and port workers have seen crew shining torches across the harbor signalling the international distress code “SOS”.
The ship’s crew members are owed more than $500,000 USD by its Jordanian owners and have also been forced to sign a secret contract to forgo some international human rights.
“This situation has gone from bad to desperate and we now have reason to believe the health and wellbeing of those on board has been compromised,” International Transport Workers’ Federation coordinator Dean Summers said.
“We call on the state government to suspend all trading permits for this company until crew rights have been restored”.
The crew’s treatment breaches the International Labour Organisation’s charter of human rights.
But the owner, Arab Ship Managers refuses to accept responsibility or to even acknowledge any problem exists.
The only response so far from Arab Ship Managers has been to threaten legal action against maritime workers in Fremantle, who have drawn attention to the plight of those on board.
Ahmed Ghoseh, the son of the owner heads up the Australian based chartering company, Livestock Shipping Services in South Perth which charters his father’s two ships from Jordan. LSS also denies any responsibility and is refusing to speak with ITF representatives.
“This is a shocking case of abuse and reinforces why we need urgent shipping reform in this country,” Mr Summers said.
“We need high level intervention on this matter from the WA Premier. We are also seeking urgent meetings with the Western Australian Farmers Federation to expose the level of crew abuse on this ship and her sister the Maysora.
CONTACT: Dean Summers, ITF Coordinator 0419 934 648
