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APT allegedly owes A$2m in crew wagesAPT allegedly owes A$2m in crew wages

The Australian coordinator of the International Transport Workers Federation, Ian Bray, claims Australian Pacific Touring (APT) owes A$2m in unpaid crew wages.

Helen Hutcheon, Australasia correspondent

September 5, 2023

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

In a release issued Tuesday Bray said an ITF inspection undertaken in the port of Broome revealed a crew of 76 aboard Caledonian Sky had been underpaid approximately A$2m during a six-month period while operating Kimberley cruises between that port and Darwin.

Ship going to Fiji

As reported here, Caledonian Sky has been purchased from APT to begin operations for Captain Cook Cruises Fiji in November.

Bray said, although the ship is registered in the Bahamas under a flag of convenience, it is operating with a temporary licence issued under the Coastal Trading Act which requires crew are paid award wages.

He said the ITF has made formal complaint to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Fair Work Ombudsman and is working closely with each agency on behalf of the Caledonian Sky crew.

Legislative reform

Bray said the ITF has been calling on the Australian government for legislative reform.

‘Part of the reforms being sought are to empower customs officers to deny clearing such vessels from leaving Australia until wages have been paid,’ he said.

He said the ITF Australian inspectorate has so far recovered more than A$10m in unpaid wages this calendar year.

Update: See reaction from APT, just in: 'APT: ITF allegations on crew pay ‘misrepresent the situation’

About the Author

Helen Hutcheon

Australasia correspondent

Helen Hutcheon did her cadetship on a shipping magazine and worked in P&O’s Sydney office for seven years as a public relations journalist.

For 19 years she was deputy editor of Travel Week, which was Australia’s leading trade newspaper that covered major local and international industry events.

In 2008 the late legendary Rama Rebbapragada presented her with an award from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ‘in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cruising industry.’

In 2010 she won the Neil Frazer Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the cruise industry,’ elevating her to CLIA Australasia’s hall of fame.

She has been the Australasia correspondent for Seatrade Cruise Review since 1997 and for Seatrade Insider (now Seatrade Cruise News) since its launch in 2000.

 

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