The recent crash of a container vessel into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has shed light on the troubling labor violations within the shipping industry. The company that owns the vessel, Grace Ocean Private Ltd., has been cited for underpaying ship crews and holding crew members onboard for extended periods beyond their contracts.
According to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Western Callao, another ship owned by Grace Ocean, was detained in 2021 for keeping 13 crew members onboard for over 12 months, well beyond their nine-month contracts. Similarly, the Furness Southern Cross had 10 seafarers onboard for more than 14 months, in violation of international maritime labor conventions.
Michael Drake, the executive director of operations for the authority, condemned these actions as “serious and shameful violations” of seafarers’ rights. The opaque nature of global ship-owning makes it challenging to hold the ultimate owners accountable for such violations.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the crash of the Dali, the Grace-owned vessel, and will likely consider factors such as crew fatigue. The Dali had 22 crew members from India onboard at the time of the crash, all of whom were unharmed.
Despite past deficiencies found during inspections of the Dali, including issues with propulsion and auxiliary machinery, Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine, the management company for the vessel, have not yet commented on the labor violations or deficiencies reported. The incident highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability within the shipping industry to ensure the safety and well-being of seafarers.
