Staff on Carnival Cruise Lines’ Australian ships reportedly earn as little as $2.50 per hour, far below the minimum wage, while working over 10 hours daily. The Maritime Union of Australia claims this exploitation targets impoverished workers, who endure harsh conditions, often working up to 300 hours a month without daylight.
In Sydney, three men, including port workers, were arrested after 506 kg of cocaine valued at AUD 164 million was seized. The Multi Agency Strike Team uncovered a sophisticated smuggling operation involving a false wall in a shipping container. Authorities continue to combat organized crime exploiting border security vulnerabilities.
A fire on Chevron’s Benguela-Belize-Lobito-Tomboco platform off Angola injured 17 people, four seriously. The incident occurred during scheduled maintenance, with the platform shut down since May 1. Chevron’s subsidiary, Cabgoc, is investigating the cause, prioritizing safety, while the platform’s production capacity remains uncertain due to the fire.
A fire on Brazil’s Petrobras’ offshore platform, set to be sold to Perenco, caused multiple injuries. The workers’ union reported the incident, which took hours to control. One worker fell and was rescued, while 13 others were injured. The platform, inactive since 2020, was part of a pending sale for redevelopment.
Norwegian authorities are investigating the death of a worker who was crushed by a crane on an offshore MPSV. The incident occurred in Hareid, More og Romsdal. The worker was repairing a platform under the crane when he was crushed against the railing. The investigation is ongoing, and safety policies are being reviewed.
In 2024, the ITF reclaimed A$30.7 million in unpaid wages for seafarers, evidencing a troubling rise in labor rights violations on international cargo vessels. Despite AMSA’s inspections and bans, advocacy groups highlight the ongoing plight of these “invisible workers” facing harsh conditions, wage theft, and inadequate living standards.
