Port cargo services in danger over crew safety

The 11,000-ton freighter, Celtic Star, was unable to leave Dublin yesterday morning for its scheduled sailing to Liverpool after nine of the 19-member crew requested to go home.

The federation claim workers are also owed around $25,000 (€17,410) in arrears.

Inspector Ken Fleming expressed concern that the crew of the Celtic Star appeared to be systematically working in excess of regulated health and safety limits. He claimed the problem was exacerbated by the fact that a proper log of the crew’s working hours was not being recorded.

Mr Fleming said one worker who appeared to be suffering from broken ribs had still been required to work, despite finding it difficult to breathe.

The SIPTU official said there were genuine concerns that the crew could be suffering fatigue, especially as the ship’s captain, according to the federation, admitted that the vessel almost hit a mud bank as it left Liverpool on Saturday night.

The ship’s crew has also reported that the vast majority of the vessel’s bilge pumps are not functioning properly, while water is also reported to be leaking through a small door near the ship’s hull.

The vessel is chartered by British shipping group Seatruck Ferries which took over the Celtic Star’s operation of a daily cargo service between Dublin and Liverpool in September from the New Ross-based shipping group, Celtic Link.

No spokesperson for the Heysham-based shipping company was available for comment yesterday.

The federation inspectors said the union’s main issue is not with Seatruck who may been unaware of the problems with the vessel.

Celtic Star is registered to Cypriot firm, Eptanisos Maritime and managed by Greek company Jay Management Corporation.

It is understood that Department of Transport officials are due to inspect the vessel today. They have the power to prevent the ship from sailing, if they believe the condition of the vessel poses a threat to the health and safety of the crew.

Mr Fleming said the crew, which consists mostly of workers from Romania and the Ukraine, had lost faith in their employers as they had not received any overtime pay.

“They feel their relationship with Jay has broken down and their careers on this vessel are effectively over,” he said.

Mr Fleming said federation officials would remain on board the Celtic Star until the crew had been paid in full and arrangement for them to travel home had been put in place.