Workers aboard one of two Australian-crewed ships abandoned by BHP have taken aim at the mining giant and BlueScope Steel for sacking them while on the job in international waters.
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Maritime unions say at least 70 seafarers will lose their jobs after BHP terminated the contracts of the last two Australian-manned vessels that carry iron ore from Port Hedland in Western Australia to BlueScope’s Port Kembla steelworks.
They will be replaced by overseas crews on foreign ships, the unions said.
The decision affects the MV Mariloula and MV Lowlands Brilliance. Both ships operate in a “triangle trade” pattern; carrying iron ore from WA to Port Kembla, before heading up the east coast, picking up coal and delivering it to China, then returning to Port Hedland.
Workers on the Mariloula, which has discharged its last cargo and was now at anchor off Hong Kong, have been left shocked and saddened by news of the termination.
“It was an enormous shock and highly-upsetting when we were told this week that we were getting the sack,” the crew said in a video provided to the Mercury.
“The fact that it was done when both the Mariloula and the Lowlands Brilliance were both outside Australian waters – in the quiet period in early January when many Australians were on holidays – is an absolute, gutless disgrace.”
The crew took aim at “BHP and BlueScope’s lack of consultation” and said they had an agreement in place until the middle of the year.
Earlier this week, BHP and BlueScope confirmed the phasing out of freight arrangements ahead of the contracts expiring on June 30.
BHP was contacted on Wednesday about the timing of the contract terminations and the consultation process.
The workers’ employer, Teekay Shipping Australia, said the Lowlands Brilliance would be delivered to its owner at a major port in China by February 1, while the Mariloula would be handed to a new crew, at a port to be determined, by month’s end.
“It is intended that the crew from both vessels will be disembarked and flown back to Australia,” Teekay said in a statement.
“Teekay is currently consulting with employees and their respective maritime unions.
“No decision has been made regarding the continued employment of the crew, and the company is examining whether there are redeployment opportunities.
“Should any member of the crew be made redundant, they will receive their entitlements under their respective enterprise agreements.”
A BlueScope spokesman said it was “exploring options for future iron ore supply”.
“Since the original iron ore supply contract was put in place some 17 years ago, the nature of the iron ore market has changed fundamentally,” the spokesman said.
