Read Authentic Ratings for the Juliette

On January 14, inspectors received valuable assistance from Cement Australia to board the bulk carrier 'Unity' which had just arrived at the port of Brisbane. Dean Summers, the National Coordinator for the International Transport Workers' Federation, reported that the conditions onboard looked to be satisfactory and praised the captain for his cooperation throughout the inspection process. The Federation is currently collaborating with the ship's Greek owners, Cosmos, to negotiate an agreement that would enforce compliance with international labor standards for the crew. Summers expressed optimism about finalizing this crucial agreement in the coming days. It is noteworthy that the 'Unity,' although owned by a Greek company, operates under a Panamanian flag—a practice often used to sidestep strict labor regulations.

On January 12, 2016, inspectors encountered a setback while attempting to board the bulk carrier 'Unity' at the Gladstone port, where the vessel was busy loading cargo for Cement Australia. The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) had raised concerns regarding the ship, which is owned by a Greek company and registered under Panama. Notably, the 'Unity' has not departed Australian waters for over a month, yet it does not comply with local regulations providing Australian minimum wages for sailors. An inspector has confirmed plans to board the vessel when it arrives in Brisbane on January 14. Meanwhile, Ironmonger Shipping Agencies, the shipping agent handling the 'Unity' in Gladstone, opted not to comment on the incident.