Daniel Bell is a face of courage in a “sea of multinational greed and bastardry”, a South Coast union boss says.
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The 30-year-old seafarer, from Nowra, arrived back in Australia on Wednesday – three weeks after being sacked while on the job in international waters.
Mr Bell and the rest of the crew aboard the MV Lowlands Brilliance were in the Coral Sea last month when told, via email, that BHP and BlueScope had axed the contracts of the last two Australian-manned vessels.
The MV Lowlands Brilliance and MV Mariloula carried iron ore from Port Hedland to BlueScope’s Port Kembla steelworks.
Mr Bell, who is married and has a young daughter, was shocked by the axing.
“It’s very gut wrenching, it’s made me feel very sick,” he said.
“I decided to do this to support my family, not to put us into a struggling situation, which it is now. I just feel like I’ve let my family down; I've just got to keep fighting, it’s all we can do.”
Mr Bell had spent two years trying to find a job at sea. He finally found one and was three weeks into his maiden voyage when his position was terminated.
“I had a job on land and I chose to leave it to pursue my dream job. Then to have it thrown back in my face, it’s very, very hard to deal with,” the seafarer, who grew up in a fishing family, said.
“I started going to sea when I was a little kid and I love working on the water.
“It’s what I’ve always wanted to do and now it’s been taken away from me.”
On Wednesday, Mr Bell was reunited with his wife, Michala, and 15-month-old daughter, Lily, for the first time in seven weeks.
MUA southern NSW acting secretary Mick Cross said it was “heart-wrenching” to see the seafarers back on home soil after being “thrown on the scrap heap by BHP in the interests of profits”.
“The company keep trying to spin this that it’s just a commercial decision, that these decisions happen everyday,” Mr Cross said.
“Well, I tell you something – Australian workers don’t get sacked overseas everyday and they [the company] need to be held to task on this because this is a shameful act.”
Maritime unions claim the Australian seafarers will be replaced by overseas crews on foreign ships.
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said Mr Bell and the other seafarers were “the faces of courage in a sea of multinational greed and bastardry”.
“BHP and BlueScope Steel have to answer for these human faces,” Mr Rorris said.
Last month, BHP said it was no longer in the business of vessel operation and management.
The workers’ employer, Teekay Shipping Australia, said the two vessels had 68 employees; 54 of whom had been made redundant.
They were being supported, Teekay said.
“Employees made redundant will receive their entitlements under their respective enterprise agreements,” it said.
“An employee assistance provider ... will continue to provide support services to employees and families.”
After consultation with the employees and their respective maritime unions, Teekay said it had identified 14 redeployment opportunities for officers and crew.
It has invited expressions of interest from the crew in filling these positions.
“The roles will be filled in accordance with the relevant enterprise agreements,” the company said.
“Teekay has carefully considered alternative options and has not been able to identify other opportunities.”
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
