Published: 29 Sep 2021
This week, the Maritime Union of Australia joins with maritime workers, seafarers and stevedores across the globe in marking World Maritime Day, an annual event organised by the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization, to raise awareness about the economic and social importance of maritime workers.
World Maritime Day is an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of the millions of seafarers, dockers, ferry and port workers who keep global supply chains moving, while locally, we acknowledge that maritime workers are vital for Australia’s security and economic success.
MUA national secretary and International Transport Workers' Federation President, Paddy Crumlin, said this year had yet again demonstrated the absolutely essential work of seafarers and dockers, who continue to facilitate the arrival of vital medical supplies and the household goods upon which our society depends.
Maritime workers are also responsible for ensuring Australia’s exports – iron ore, coal, and other minerals – continue to be marketed globally, securing significant wealth for our nation.
“Without the efforts of maritime workers, Australia’s economy would have collapsed during COVID-19, 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,” said Mr Crumlin.
“This invisible workforce responsible for keeping our island nation operating now faces their own crisis, with hundreds of thousands stuck on cargo ships across the globe, in some cases for up to 18 months, unable to return to their families because of the rolling impacts of the pandemic,”
“The Australian Government and the various states and territories whose economies are all dependent on maritime workers’ labour must turn their attentions urgently to this humanitarian crisis. Seafarers deserve access to vaccines, health services and repatriation protocols that will get them home to their families,” Mr Crumlin said.
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. This dependence upon foreign flagged ships has undermined our economic sovereignty and exposed us to the risk of shortages and delays,” he said.
This World Maritime Day, the Maritime Union of Australia calls on Australia’s political leaders to recommit themselves to a strong, reliable and safe domestic shipping industry and to improving the lives of international seafarers who work in our Ports and to whom Australia’s economic and social fortunes owe so much.
