Carnival pledges cooperation after Carnival Encounter is boarded by AMSA inspectors

• Federal government inspectors have reportedly boarded Carnival Encounter.
• The investigators allegedly boarded the ship after a whistleblower reported of unsafe drinking water and crew being forced to work while sick.
• The Maritime Union of Australia says the inspection is a direct result of whistleblower reports to the union.

Federal Government inspectors have reportedly boarded Carnival Encounter after a whistleblower contacted the Maritime Union of Australia, claiming poor working conditions.

The inspectors are with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).

Carnival Australia told Cruise Passenger today: “We have nothing to hide and will cooperate with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which ensures international crew welfare standards are met through regular port state control inspections as a matter of course.”

The statement added: “As we have said before, the Maritime Union of Australia is making blatant claims to launch a membership drive and apparently likes to use vulgar and lame tactics to get attention.”

The MUA’s Branch Secretary of the Northern Territory Andy Burford says that his branch of the MUA is working with the International Transport Workers Federation and AMSA in “rectifying the horrifying treatment of crew aboard Carnival Cruises‘ ships marketed as ‘Australian home-ported’ vessels.

In previous statements, Carnival has completely denied any wrongdoing and maintained that it pays and treats its workers according to the standards set by the International Labour Organisation.

In what is obviously becoming an increasingly bitter dispute and a war of words designed to unsettle the cruising public, the union maintained: “This is exactly what happens when you allow foreign-owned and controlled companies to sail the Australian coast, using Australian ports, carrying Australian passengers paying Australian fares, but who are completely immune from Australian law.”

He went on to maintain that crews were paid as little as $2.50 an hour and subjecting them to “horrifying conditions” – claims Carnival has consistently denied.

A previous Cruise Passenger investigation showed that while cruise workers hourly rates can be low by Australian standards, a rate of $2.50 would be illegal by international standards. Carnival says it maintains those standards.

However, current allegations from the MUA claim: “The inspection is targeting extremely serious reports from crew, including cramped living conditions leading to high incidence of skin infections, very poor quality, potentially harmful drinking water, and crew being forced to work while suffering from serious illnesses, including gastro.”

AMSA said in a statement: ” The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) takes the welfare of crew on board ships very seriously.  AMSA investigates claims and complaints of seafarer health and safety issues in line with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), the Navigation Act 2012 and relevant Marine Orders, and will take action if there are found to be breaches of the Convention. 

“AMSA is currently looking into claims related to seafarers’ welfare on board a ship berthed in Darwin Harbour.  More information on AMSA’s role in seafarer welfare can be found here : Seafarer welfare | Australian Maritime Safety Authority“.

The link takes you to the following statement: “In Australia, the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) is implemented primarily through the Navigation Act 2012 and associated delegated legislation such as Marine Order 11 (Living and working conditions on vessels). We inspect vessels, develop seafarer welfare guidance and programs, and process complaints under the MLC.

“We are responsible for investigating seafarer health and safety issues on prescribed vessels engaged in trade on international or interstate voyages.”