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. “That particular claim is now taking on water and about to sink without trace.”

“Coming on top of the scandalous recent cases of the CSL Melbourne and the MV Portland, these new exposés paint a deeply worrying picture of a dysfunctional and indefensible policy that goes right to the top of the Australian government,” Smith added.