Two International Transport Federation inspectors are refusing to leave a ship at the Seatruck terminal in Dublin port after claiming that the crew is overworked.
Two International Transport Federation inspectors are refusing to leave a ship at the Seatruck terminal in Dublin port after claiming that the crew is overworked.
The ITF inspectors Norrie McVicar and Ken Fleming are currently on board the Celtic Star and are refusing to leave after finding members of the crew overworked, with one of them appearing to suffer from broken ribs.
Some of the crew, who have been on the vessel between two weeks and three months, are owed $25,000 in arrears.
The inspectors said they also found water in an area of the vessel where the bilge pumps may not be working and have requested the urgent assistance of Port State Control.
According to the union the captain has admitted there was a near miss in the Mersey last night around midnight, when the vessel almost hit a mud bank as it left Liverpool.
The Department of Transport is expected to carry out a safety, security and safety inspection tomorrow morning.
The union also said that the full hours worked by the men are not recorded and many of them are working well in excess of the Health and Safety maximum. A number of the ship's crew have given power of attorney to the ITF.
The 11,000 ton freighter Cypriot-flagged freighter was due to sail at 9:30am this morning however, it will not be able to sail in its present state.