Mariner killed during at-sea crew change off Australia
Taiwanese-controlled capesize detained pending investigation.
A seafarer on board a capesize bulker operated by Formosa Plastics Marine Corp has died while attempting an at-sea crew change off Australia. The man reportedly fell from a ladder while transferring between the Liberian-flagged bulker and a smaller vessel.
The 170,000-dwt carrier Formosabulk Clement (built 2001) was in Australian territorial waters approximately five nautical miles off Mooloolaba when the accident happened.
“The Formosabulk Clement was reportedly sailing to a New South Wales port, where a crew change could have safely occurred at the berth, but because of that state’s restrictive health orders it appears the vessel operator instead decided to replace the crew while sailing down the Queensland coast,” International Transport Workers Federation Australia coordinator Ian Bray said.
