Five Ships Detained in Major MCA Crackdown at UK Ports
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) surveyors have detained five out of six inspected ships today, sending shockwaves through the cruise industry. Four vessels – Astoria, Astor, Colombus, and Vasco de Gama – were held up at Tilbury, while the Marco Polo was detained at Bristol.
All Ships Owned by Same Company, Crew Conditions Under Fire
All five detained ships belong to Global Cruise Lines Limited. Four fly the Bahamian flag, while one is registered in Portugal (Madeira). MCA inspectors discovered glaring violations, including expired and invalid Seafarers Employment Agreements, late wage payments, and crew members stuck onboard for over 12 months.
Breach of Maritime Labour Convention Leads to Detentions
These violations flagrantly breach the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), forcing the MCA to act. Katy Ware, Director of Maritime Safety and Standards and UK’s permanent rep to the International Maritime Organization, slammed the conditions:
“This sends a very clear message that crew welfare remains a top priority for us both as a Flag and a Port State. We must care for the well-being and health of our seafarers who work so hard in the industry.”
Ships to Remain Detained Until Issues Fixed
The detained vessels will stay stuck until Global Cruise Lines resolves the breaches and MCA inspectors give the all-clear. The sixth ship, the Magellan, also owned by the same company, escaped detention after passing inspection with no major faults.
