ATHENS: Australian crew onboard an oil tanker operated by Teekay Shipping are refusing to sail the vessel to Singapore from Tasmania, after being told they will be made redundant after the vessel arrives.
The 36 crew are transporting oil for Caltex onboard the MR tanker Alexander Spirit (40,100 dwt, built 2007), which is currently anchored at Devenport, Tasmania. The seafarers have filed an application for a hearing in Fair Work Australia, according to Australian news reports.
Ian Bray from the Maritime Union of Australia told press that Caltex may well return the ship to Australian waters with a foreign crew, who could be employed much more cheaply than Australian nationals, in an effort to avoid cabotage laws.
