The crew onboard a vessel detained at Port Kembla since February are in "pretty good spirits", a union leader says.
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Australian maritime authorities recently detained two vessels, including one at Port Kembla for alleged serious labour rights breaches.
The ships are owned by controversial Qatari shipping company, Aswan Trading and Contracting.
It's alleged Aswan left the crew of the Maryam without power and fuel in Port Kembla.
The Maryam was first detained on February 19 in Port Kembla by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) for 36 safety and crew welfare deficiencies.
As of this week, the vessel is still detained and is currently having repairs done.
On Tuesday, the Maritime Union of Australia's southern NSW branch secretary Mick Cross said there had been some seafarers repatriated to their homes.
He said there were still more seafarers onboard that required repatriation, and required their bonuses paid.
"At the moment, the crew are going okay," he said. "They're in pretty good spirits.
"A lot of the functionality of the vessel, which was the main concern... Have been fixed and repaired. But there are still ongoing repairs at the moment."
According to the International Transport Workers' Federation, Aswan Trading and Contracting had failed to pay key contracts to suppliers on a number of recent occasions, leaving the ship without fuel for the engine, power and lighting.
During those periods of three to four days, refrigerators lost power and food had to be thrown out.
With no lighting, air-conditioning, or power to charge mobile phones and communication devices, the lack of fuel and electricity put the crew's welfare and mental health in jeopardy.
The 23 seafarers could not even have showers or flush the ship's toilets - having to lift buckets of water from the sea below.
The ITF said the crew also hadn't been paid properly in the lead-up to their current ordeal.
Mr Cross said for the Maritime Union in Port Kembla and the International Transport Workers Federation, their only concern was for the welfare of those seafarers onboard.
He said while the Maryam was sitting at the port, they would do all they could to ensure the crew were properly fed, and had everything they needed to be able to have a safe and healthy workplace.
"What plays out within the regulatory authorities, that's for their concern and they will work out that in due process," he said.
Before the Maryam is allowed to leave Port Kembla, AMSA has set out a number of "deficiencies" they say Aswan needs to correct.
The Mercury has contacted Aswan Trading and Contracting for comment.
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