Federal agents have boarded a Carnival cruise ship docked in Darwin amid allegations that foreign crew are being housed in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions while being paid as little as $2.50 an hour.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority inspectors boarded the Carnival Encounter on Monday morning to investigate reports of widespread skin infections, unsafe drinking water and allegations staff were pressured to work while seriously ill.
AMSA said it was assessing potential breaches of the Maritime Labour Convention and the Navigation Act and would take enforcement action if required.
The allegations were raised by the Maritime Union of Australia, which said crew from some of the world’s poorest nations are being housed below deck in cramped cabins with poor amenities despite the ship operating almost exclusively in Australian waters.
MUA NT branch secretary Andy Burford accused Carnival of exploiting legal loopholes that exempt foreign crew from Australian workplace laws while ‘generating billions of dollars in profit worldwide’.
‘This is exactly what happens when you allow foreign-owned and controlled companies to sail the Australian coast, using Australian ports, carrying Australian passengers paying Australian fares, but who are completely immune from Australian law,’ he said.
‘Workers are [allegedly] being paid as little as $600-a-month and subjected to conditions no worker should accept.’
Assistant national secretary Jamie Newlyn said the issues under investigation were ‘systemic across the cruise industry’ and reflected the ‘daily living and working environment’ for staff who keep the vessels operating.
Assistant national secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, Jamie Newlyn (pictured) has spoken out about the conditions of crew members working below deck
‘These are the real conditions behind the scenes,’ he said.
‘This is the daily living and working environment of the people who keep these ships operating, serve passengers around the clock, and generate enormous profits for cruise company owners.’
Sydney branch organiser Shane Reside said Carnival’s business model relied on ‘complete domination’ of a vulnerable, low‑paid workforce ‘literally trapped at sea’.
‘They’re paid as little as $600-a-month and sometimes required to work in excess of 10 hours a day for in excess of 30 consecutive days,’ he said.
‘I don’t think that any holiday is worth workers facing the kinds of exploitation that we’ve seen on these vessels.’
The Carnival Encounter is one of three Carnival Cruise Line vessels whose home port is in Australia but are staffed predominantly by foreign workers.
AMSA is investigating reports that staff suffering gastro and other infectious illnesses are pressured to continue working, despite the well‑established risk of sick crew contributing to passenger outbreaks on cruise vessels.
An AMSA spokesperson said crew welfare is taken ‘very seriously’ and that the authority investigates all complaints received.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority inspectors boarded the Carnival Encounter on Monday morning to investigate reports of widespread skin infections, unsafe drinking water and staff allegedly pressured to work while seriously ill, including with gastro (stock image)
A Carnival spokeswoman said AMSA found no deficiencies during its inspection of Carnival Encounter in Darwin on Monday.
‘As we stated emphatically at the time, Carnival has nothing to hide,’ the spokeswoman said.
‘The outcome of AMSA’s inspection – with no follow‑up action required – reinforces that fact.
‘In contrast, the Maritime Union of Australia continues to use our crew as props in an ongoing attempt to increase its membership.’