APL ship unable to unload cargo

   APL Turquoise, a ship deployed on APL’s Asia-Australia Express (AAX) service that connects Singapore, Port Kelang, Malaysia, and various ports in Australia was unable to offload cargo in Fremantle because of a dispute about labor rules.
   The ship berthed at the port of Fremantle on the morning of Oct 29.
   APL said due to a technicality applicable specifically to cargo operations in Australian ports, local dockworkers did not carry out container lashing/unlashing work aboard the vessel and it departed for Port Kelang on Nov. 4.
   In addition to APL, CMA CGM and its sister company ANL, Hapag-Lloyd and NYK share space on the ship.
   ANL said the ship is expected in Port Kelang Nov. 12.
   ANL said, “We have been advised the issue is to do with Marine Orders 32 being placed on the vessel, and as a result, the MUA (Maritime Union of Australia) were not prepared to work the vessel.” Marine Order 32 is an Australian regulation having to do with cargo handling, and Lloyd’s List Australia described it as a “safe-working issue over space between deck container stacks.”
   APL noted that “apart from APL Turquoise’s latest voyage, all other APL vessels calling Australian ports in our Oceania services have thus far been able to proceed with cargo operations as planned.”