Hungry sailors 'left for dead' off Queensland coast after owners 'vanish'
Twenty Chinese sailors have reportedly been 'left for dead' on a coal ship off Queensland's coast after the ship's owner "vanished".
The sailors desperate plight was only uncovered last Wednesday when the ship, carrying $40 million worth of coal, was detained by Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
20 hungry Chinese sailors 'left for dead' on a coal ship off Queensland's coast after the ship's owner "vanished". Photo: 7 News
Ports Minister Mark Bailey said the vessel, Five Stars Fujian, has been stranded off the Port of Gladstone since July 19 and was detained due to breaches of the Maritime Labour Convention.
The International Transport Workers' Federation says the bulk carrier had a crew of underfed and unpaid 20 Chinese nationals, after the ship's owners "vanished".
Mr Bailey said he is "disgraced" the owners of the Hong Kong-flagged ship took crew "halfway around the world, stranded without food (and) without fuel".
Crew members on the Five Stars Fujian have been stranded since July 19. Photo: 7 News
The Hong Kong-flagged ship took crew "halfway around the world, stranded without food (and) without fuel". Photo: 7 News
He said the crew claim they haven't been paid their two dollar an hour wages in more than two months.
Last Friday, three days worth of food and emergency supplies were rushed to to those on board by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, but crews still face the prospect of dangerously low food stocks.
"This is absolutely disgraceful and indefensible behaviour by the ship owners," Mr Bailey said.
Last Friday, three days worth of food and emergency supplies were rushed to to those on board. Photo: 7 News
He said the ship owners should face "absolutely tough" repercussions to show the behaviour wasn't tolerated.
Mr Bailey believes the ship won't be a threat to the Great Barrier Reef, but claimed the situation was being monitored.
