High-res photo attached for editorial use
Federal Government Inspectors Board Carnival Cruise Ship in Darwin Following Whistleblower Reports of Crew Skin Disease, Unsafe Drinking Water and being Forced to Work While Sick
This morning, Federal Government investigators from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) boarded the Carnival cruise ship Carnival Encounter at the Port of Darwin to investigate whistleblower reports of skin disease, unsafe drinking water and crew being forced to work while sick.
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) received the whistleblower reports from a crew member who cannot be publicly named for fear of retribution.
The MUA’s NT Branch Secretary, Andy Burford, said the inspection was the direct result of crew members coming forward to the Union, and that the branch is working closely with International Transport Workers Federation inspectors and AMSA to coordinate sweeping interventions throughout Australia aimed at rectifying the horrifying treatment of crew aboard Carnival Cruises' ships marketed as 'Australian home-ported' vessels.
The Carnival Encounter is one of three Carnival Cruise Line vessels “home ported” in Australia which operate almost exclusively in Australian waters but use loopholes in maritime laws to employ vulnerable foreign crew members who are excluded from Australia’s employment laws.
“This this is exactly what happens when you allow foreign owned and controlled companies to sail the Australian coast, using Australian ports, carrying Australian passengers paying Australian fares, but who are completely immune from Australian law.”
“Carnival is bringing in workers from some of the poorest economies on earth, paying them as little as $2.50 an hour and subjecting them to horrifying conditions that no worker should accept, all while Carnival continues to generate billions of dollars in profit worldwide, and many tens of millions of dollars here in Australia” Mr Burford said.
The inspection is targeting extremely serious reports from crew, including cramped living conditions leading to high incidence of skin infections, very poor quality, potentially harmful drinking water, and crew being forced to work while suffering from serious illnesses, including gastro.
The Union said the matters under investigation by AMSA point to broader, systemic problems across the cruise industry. Workers from some of the world’s poorest nations are the backbone of these cruise vessels’ operations but while guests enjoy a lavish party upstairs, these workers are frequently housed below decks, out of sight in overcrowded cabins, provided with inadequate amenities, and are forced to work even while sick.
“These are the real conditions behind the scenes,” Assistant National Secretary Jamie Newlyn said. “This is the daily living and working environment of the people who keep these ships operating, serve passengers around the clock, and generate enormous profits for cruise company owners.”
The MUA welcomed AMSA’s intervention and said it underscored the importance of whistleblower protections and effective regulatory enforcement.
“We welcome AMSA acting on this information,” Mr Newlyn said. “However, inspections alone will not address the underlying power imbalance onboard these vessels.”
The MUA reiterated its call for Carnival Cruises to recognise the right of crew members to organise and bargain collectively in line with international labour standards.
“Carnival’s business model is built on complete domination of a workforce from some of the worlds poorest economies, literally trapped at sea subject to the complete authority of managers and corporate structures which answer to American billionaires ” MUA Organiser Shane Reside said. “When workers are prohibited from having a Union, this is exactly what happens.”
“Lasting improvements in safety, accountability and living conditions only occur when workers have enforceable rights and a collective voice,” Mr Reside said. “Until that happens, the MUA will continue to escalate this fight. Our Union simply will not allow this to continue under our watch”.
ENDS
Contact details:
Shane Reside: 0400 526 313