Australia Bans Bulk Carrier For 90 Days Over Falsified Crew Work Records

Australia has detained and banned a bulk carrier for 90 days after finding that the crew’s work-hour records had been doctored.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) inspected the dry bulk carrier, Wooyang Venus, on October 29, 2026. The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel was docked in Newcastle when the inspectors went aboard after receiving a complaint under the Maritime Labour Convention 2006. The inspectors found falsified records to mask extreme hours, where the records did not document the actual hours worked.

AMSA says that records need to be accurate to show that minimum rest requirements are met and fatigue is being managed. With the obligation of rest requirements, the AMSA Executive Director said in the Press Release dated November 3, 2026, that fatigue is detrimental to judgement and alertness. It can prove dangerous during critical tasks like navigation and watchkeeping.

Deliberately tampering with records that safeguard seafarers is a significant risk to the crew members’ safety, the AMSA director Greg Witherall said. AMSA lists crewing and fatigue as a priority in its National Compliance Plan 2026-27.

This story was originally published by Marine Insight. Read the full story at Marine Insight →