About 200 individuals took to the streets of Devonport, Tasmania Monday in assist of the Australian crew of an oil tanker who’re refusing to sail after being advised they might get replaced low-cost overseas staff.

The 36 crew members of the MT Alexander Spirit have been putting since final week after they had been advised that they might get replaced by a overseas crew on a brand new worldwide route upon their arrival in Singapore.

The Bahamas-flagged Alexander Spirit started a 10-year time-charter with the Australian oil firm Caltex in 2009 and was beforehand used on a home route delivery gas from Caltex’s Lytton refinery to ports alongside Australia’s east coast. However, in a July third assertion the oil firm stated that the closure of BP’s Bulwer Island refinery has compelled the oil firm make modifications to its Queensland gas provide chain – placing the Teekay Shipping Australia-operated tanker and its 36 crew members out of labor.

In the assertion asserting the modifications, Caltex stated that “Alexander Spirit will be redeployed to the international fuel supply chain, spending most of its time in international waters competing against every other ship importing fuel into Australia.”

“As an Australian company competing against multinational fuel suppliers, Caltex needs to ensure the ship’s operational arrangements, including crewing, are aligned with industry so it is not at a competitive disadvantage,” the assertion added.

On Monday, union members, native and excessive profile supporters, and even members of Alexander Spirit hit the streets of Davenport for the rally organized by Maritime Union of Australia (MUA).

In an announcement posted to the union’s web site on Monday, MUA Assistant National Secretary Ian Bray, who final week blamed Caltex’s determination on the Australian Government’s intention to unravel the nation’s cabotage legal guidelines, stated that Caltex was deceptive the Australian public by insisting that there was not sufficient commerce to maintain the Australian-crewed Alexander Spirit.

“I would love for Caltex to explain why the Liberian-flagged Stolt Kikyo is alongside in Geelong and what trip Caltex has planned for that vessel they have brought in to replace the Alexander Spirit,” he stated.

“Why haven’t the soon-to-be redundant crew from the Alexander Spirit crew been provided substitute jobs on the vessel?

“Why is the Government permitting Caltex to run roughshod over the intent of Cabotage legal guidelines by permitting this substitute vessel to do what was, up till at present, the Alexander Spirit run?

“So many unanswered questions and I think the crew has a right to know why they have been cast aside in the worst way possible,” Bray added.

Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) President Ged Kearney joined the rally and in addition condemned the actions of the liberal Government underneath Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

“The fact the Abbott Government is intent on passing legislation that they know will have an impact on local jobs shows how little regard they have for Australian workers,” Ms. Kearney stated.

“The seafarers aboard the Alexander Spirit are the latest in the litany of workers being thrown on the scrapheap as a result of bad Government decisions,” she stated.

In May, the Australian Government introduced its new plan for coastal delivery, which included modifications that will dismantle a complete reform package deal delivered by the earlier authorities in 2012, often known as the Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping Act) 2012, which created a stage enjoying discipline for Australia’s home delivery and protects native Australian ships and crews from overseas Flags of Convenience (FOC).

Independent Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie was additionally current at Monday’s rally and was given a chance to speak to the crew.

“If we’re going to act in our Nation’s best interest and guarantee Australian jobs and the skills base for our entire Maritime industry – it might be time to follow the example of the (others) and put in place policy measures which restrict coastal trade to Australian built, owned, crewed and flagged vessels,” Lambie stated in a earlier assertion.

“If we follow the Liberal / National’s plan and abandon our Maritime industry solely to a free, liberalized market – and the influence of multinational corporations’ insatiable need for bigger profits – then Australia will place our food, fuel, energy and national security in the hands of foreigners.”

On Sunday, Tasmanian Labor Leader Bryan Green threw his assist behind the crew members of the Alexander Spirit and in addition questioned the motives of Caltex for the transfer.

“Tony Abbott appears hell bent on unraveling cabotage arrangements which ensure Australian seafarers are employed on Coastal shipping routes,” Green stated. “It won’t just be the 36 men and women aboard the Alexander Spirit who lose their jobs, if the Abbott Government gets its way and is able to completely dismantle the Coastal Trading Act, the jobs of all workers on Australian ships will be under threat.”

For now, the Alexander Spirit stays in Devonport.

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