The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has imposed a 90-day ban on the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Wooyang Venus following the discovery of deliberately falsified crew work and rest records during an October 29 port State control inspection in Newcastle. The inspection, prompted by a Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) complaint, revealed attempts to conceal excessive working hours, marking the vessel’s third detention in Australian waters since December 2023. Previous inspections had identified similar recordkeeping deficiencies, alongside serious crew welfare concerns. AMSA cited repeated non-compliance and deficiencies in the vessel operator’s safety management systems, emphasizing that inadequate fatigue management increases the risk of collisions, groundings and injuries. The enforcement action reflects AMSA’s continued focus on seafarer welfare, fatigue prevention and compliance with international maritime labour standards.
