False crew records lead to 90-day ban for bulker in Australia

Australia has detained and banned the bulk carrier MV Wooyang Venus from its ports for 90 days after inspectors found that the ship's crew work and rest records had been deliberately changed. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said the false records hid excessive working hours and raised concerns about crew fatigue and safety. The Maritime Telegraph reportes.

The latest inspection took place in Newcastle, New South Wales, on 29 October 2026, after a complaint under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). Inspectors found that the recorded hours did not match the time crew members had actually spent working. This was the third time the vessel had faced similar problems. AMSA had already detained it twice, in December 2023 and August 2026, over issues with crew work and rest records.

AMSA said the repeated violations raised concerns about the effectiveness of the safety management systems used by the ship's owner and operator. Under the MLC, ships must keep accurate daily records of working and rest hours. Under the applicable rules, seafarers must get at least 10 hours of rest in any 24-hour period and 77 hours over seven days. They also have the right to receive a copy of their records, signed by the master or an authorised person and by the seafarer.

 

Picture: Zakharov Andrey / MarineTraffic