Crew delay Stolt Australia departure

"We the crew of the MT Stolt Australia took a responsible position yesterday and have alleviated the pressures on our fellow workers within the Hobart Zinc Smelter by co-operating and loading sulphuric acid onto our vessel," a crew statement released this morning said.

"Having done that we are still of the view that we must continue to take a firm stand and refuse to sail the ship today.

"We call on Stolt to enter into immediate and good faith discussions with our union to explore ways and means of retaining the Stolt Australia as an Australian flagged and Australian crewed vessel."

MUA Asst National Secretary Mick Doleman said 20 years of progress towards a globally competitve shipping industry in Australia will be undermined unless Stolt Australia takes urgent steps to work with its crew and unions to protect the jobs of Australian seafarers and help prevent the loss of another Australian operated ship,

"The 18 crew of the Stolt Australia are faced with losing their jobs and safety standards being compromised so that cheaper labour can be employed. The significant progress made in recent years to ensure Australian shipping remains competitive on the world stage will be eroded if this proceeds."

On site at the Hobart dock, MUA NSW Secretary Warren Smith said Australian seafarers are the best trained in the world and the unions have played a key role to ensure that the industry remains among the most competitive.

"The Howard Government has sanctioned the demise of the Australian shipping industry over the last 10 years. The MT Stolt is only 1 of 52 Australian flagged ships left in operation.?Stolt Australia's actions will hurt working families all for the sake of a bigger bottom line. Where will it stop?" Mr Smith said.

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