Australia Bans Bulk Carrier Over Repeated Falsification of Crew Rest Records

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has banned a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier from Australian ports for 90 days after inspectors discovered that crew work and rest records had been deliberately falsified to conceal excessive working hours.

The ban against the Wooyang Venus follows an October 29 port State control inspection in Newcastle prompted by a complaint under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). Inspectors found that the vessel’s records did not accurately reflect the hours worked by its crew.

It marks the third detention of the vessel in Australian waters in less than three years, with previous inspections uncovering similar problems.

According to AMSA, the Wooyang Venus was detained in August 2026 after inspectors found that crew work and rest hours were not being properly recorded or monitored. The vessel was also detained in December 2023 over incorrect work and rest records.

That earlier detention involved more serious crew welfare concerns. According to AMSA’s 2023 Maritime Labour Convention annual report, inspectors responding to a complaint from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) found poor-quality food provisions, falsified working-hour records and evidence that the ship’s master had physically assaulted a seafarer.

The operator subsequently submitted a corrective action plan that included crew repatriation arrangements, improved food provisions and additional training on work and rest hour compliance.

Despite those measures, similar deficiencies have continued to surface.

Greg Witherall, AMSA’s Executive Director of Maritime Safety and Environmental Compliance, warned that falsifying records intended to protect seafarers poses serious risks to both crews and maritime safety.

“Evidence has shown poor fatigue management can impair judgement, reduce alertness and slow reaction times,” Witherall said.

He warned that fatigue increases the risk of collisions, groundings and serious injuries, particularly during navigation, watchkeeping and other safety-critical operations.

Under the MLC, shipowners and operators must comply with minimum standards covering seafarers’ working and living conditions, including mandatory rest periods. Accurate recordkeeping is essential to demonstrating compliance and preventing fatigue-related incidents.

AMSA said the 90-day ban was imposed under Section 246 of Australia’s Navigation Act 2012, citing the deliberate falsification of records, repeated deficiencies and concerns about the effectiveness of the vessel owner’s and operator’s safety management systems.

The agency has identified crewing and fatigue management as a key enforcement priority under its 2026–27 National Compliance Plan.

“Where we find serious or repeated failures to meet those obligations, AMSA will take strong action,” Witherall said.

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