Flag of Convenience Hearings Raise ‘Shocking Concerns’
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) maritime coordinator Jacqueline Smith today described the Australian senate hearings into flag of convenience (FOC) shipping taking place in Canberra as raising “shocking concerns”. According to the ITF, the fact that the captain of the ‘death ship’ Sage Sagittarius – on which three people have died in suspicious circumstances – was allowed to work off the Australian coast for eight months, despite claims of involvement in potential firearms offences, is the latest revelation to emerge at the hearings. “These latest revelations are blowing a hole in the Australian government’s pretence that it is managing Australian shipping in a safe and responsible manner,” Smith said.
Australian Defence Minister Says Would Not Trust Submarine Firm to Build Canoe
Australia's defence minister has said he would not trust state-owned Australian Submarine Corp (ASC) "to build a canoe", fuelling expectations that most work in a A$40 billion ($34 billion) program will go offshore. Reuters reported in September that Australia was leaning towards buying as many as 12 off-the-shelf stealth submarines from Japan. Responding to questions in the Australian Senate on Tuesday, David Johnston highlighted cost over-runs on other projects and a lack of experience in submarine design at ASC. "You wonder why I am worried about ASC and what they are delivering to the Australian taxpayer. Do you wonder why I wouldn't trust them to build a canoe?" Johnston told lawmakers. "Let's get real here ...
Australian Senate Rejects Offshore Foreign Worker Visa Plan
All maritime unions – the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), The Australian Maritime Officers Union (AMOU) and Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE) – opposed the Abbott Government’s attempts to flood the offshore oil and gas sector with cheap foreign labour, says the Maritime Union of Australia. They consider that the Australian Parliament has made the right decision in disallowing this proposal. The Senate voted to disallow the Federal Government from continuing to issue Maritime Crew (subclass 988) visas to foreign workers for the purposes of working in Australia’s offshore oil and gas industry. A petition calling…
Austal's First Cape-class Patrol Boat Named
The 'Cape St George' has been named during a ceremony held at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia. Cape St George is the first of eight new boats being built by Austal for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service under a design, construct and in-service support contract valued at approximately A$330 million. The naming ceremony was attended by the Australian Special Minister for State, the Hon. Gary Gray AO; and former President of the Australian Senate Margaret Reid AO, who officially named the vessel.
