Shipping
Australia Bans Liberian-Flagged Bulker From Ports Amid Crackdown on Crew Exploitation
Australia's Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) banned the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier FPMC B Forever, operated by Taiwan-based Formosa Plastics Marine Corporation, from its ports until July 28, 2026, after inspectors discovered the crew had been underpaid by nearly AUD $15,000 and unlawfully charged for drinking water. This marks AMSA's third ban in less than two months, signaling an increasingly aggressive enforcement posture against labor abuses in global shipping.