Friday, March 24, 2006

MUA watchdog on container poaching

Maritime workers uncover new scam on Australian waterfront as MUA launches campaign against multi-national ship operators highjacking Australian cargo

Fremantle wharfies will stand guard over containers awaiting the arrival of the Australian licensed Boomerang I due in port this weekend, after the ship lost cargo in Melbourne to a Flag of Convenience vessel.

The Boomerang I, the first Australian crewed liner vessel in the coastal trade for a decade has priority under the Navigation Act to ship coastal cargo. But while on her maiden voyage to Melbourne last week, the FoC vessel MSC Kota Ekspres made off with containers on a continuous voyage permit. This is in contravention to Australian maritime law, which only allows foreign vessels to carry domestic cargo if no Australian licensed vessel is available.

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