Members of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) working onboard pilot cutters operated by the Port Authority of New South Wales from Port Jackson and Port Botany have announced a 24-hour work stoppage for next week.
The industrial action is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 26, starting at 0600 hours, GAC informed.
The action proposed will suspend the use of the pilot vessels to embark and disembark Pilots in Port Jackson and Port Botany.
Movement of perishables, product tanker and crude oil tanker vessels, and passenger cruise vessels, will be exempt from the industrial action.
MUA members also agreed to exempt watchkeeping at sea, fire rounds, port security watches, safety drills, along with all emergency and safety related issues from the work stoppage.
As informed, emergency response, vessel traffic services, and other port officer functions, other than pilot cutter movements, will be required to continue as normal during this period of industrial action.
World Maritime News is yet to receive more information on the reasons behind the industrial action and potential next steps on the matter.
Pilots embark on vessels to conduct a master/pilot information exchange briefing to provide the bridge team with all the necessary information required to conduct a safe pilotage.
The pilot then takes charge of the conduct of the navigation whilst the master retains command of the vessel.