Marshall Islands-Flagged Bulker Banned from Australian Ports for 90 Days
The 87,000-DWT Wooyang Venus was banned after inspectors found falsified crew work and rest-hour records concealing excessive working hours.
The Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Wooyang Venus has been banned from Australian ports for 90 days after deliberately falsifying crew working and rest-hour records to conceal excessive overtime.
Inspections aboard the 87,000-DWT vessel revealed discrepancies between the crew's actual working hours and the recorded figures, with rest periods also found to have been inaccurately documented. The investigation was launched following a complaint under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).
The vessel had previously been detained twice for similar violations. Earlier inspections also identified irregularities in records relating to crew working and rest hours.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) warned that failures in fatigue management can impair crew alertness and decision-making, increasing the risk of navigational errors and serious accidents.
The 90-day ban was imposed due to repeated violations and concerns over the vessel's safety management system. Under its new inspection plan, AMSA has also prioritised crew working conditions and fatigue management as key areas of focus.
