Australian Authoritys Criticised For Letting Ship Leave Port

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has criticised the Burnie Port Authority for allowing a Greek ship to leave port, despite claims some of its workers are owed pay. The Greek ship Pontonostos was loaded with Forestry Tasmania logs yesterday and is now anchored at sea. Union delegates believe 16 Filipino Sailors on board are owed more than $80,000, and are not being treated humanely. ITF spokesman Matt Purcell says the ship was allowed to leave port this morning. "The harbour master in front of myself and the acting secretary of the MUA, and this port, conceded that the company was in breach of the ISPS Code - that is the security code, in not allowing the ITF to come on board," he said. "When asked about what he was going to do about it, he said he wasn't going to do anything about it. "I believe that knowing the delicate situation he should have left it alongside until we could board the vessel." The Pontonostos