Australian maritime authorities have received complaints concerning basic goods’ deficiency and unpaid wages in two Greek-owned ships.

The first incident took place last week in Newcastle after an inspection was carried out by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) on the bulk carrier ‘San Nicolas’ managed by Greece’s Athenian Shipping company.

MUA Newcastle Branch Secretary Glen Williams reported concerns for the crew’s health with a lack of fresh fruit and limited potable water being available.

Some days later in WA, allegations surfaced about the grain vessel ‘Apellis’ following a meeting between crew members and a volunteer inspector from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

The shipping agency Pyrsos Shipping Co Ltd is the owner of ‘Apellis’, which has been detained near the Esperance Port zone.

The staff on board, which includes Ukranians and Indonesians, made claims over poor quality and insufficient essentials, low hygiene standards and unpaid salaries.

“We have one crew member, the steward, on $200 a month, another, the chief engineer, claims he hasn’t received a single cent in eight months,” Matt Purcell, ITF’s assistant national coordinator in Australia, told reporters.

Mr Purcell referred to the conditions as inhumane and in contravention of the Maritime Labor Convention.

Sources: splash247.com, ABC