Protest & Ceremony Mark Maritime Day

Date: 21 September 2001

MEDIA RELEASE
Mariners the world over gather to commemorate the impact
of the global shipping industry on seafarers & our environment

THE MUA will mark World Maritime Day (September 27) with a week of protests, surfing competitions, ceremony & silence for seafarers lost at sea in war and peace.

In Newcastle wharfie and surfer Christian Loades is drenching himself in 'oil' beside the wreck of the Signa on Stockton beach today at 3pm to demonstrate the threat to our beaches in both war and peace time.
And in Wollongong next weekend wharfie and surfer Gary Cauldwell will stage a dramatic protest on the beach at 10am to open the MUA Koori Challenge surfing event. He will emerge from the waves as if covered in oil from a shipping disaster, drawing attention to the risk substandard shipping poses to our environment. The ceremony opening the surfing comp will also feature Koori dances. The event has attracted top surf talent from all over Australia.
In Sydney a procession of maritime workers, retired and seagoing, will take part in the traditional march of honour behind a full brass band over the old Pyrmont Bridge to the anchor outside the Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour in memory of all those who have perished at sea. Special guest speakers are Rear Admiral Tony Hunt (retired Royal Australian Navy) and Hon. Peter Morris, founder of the ships of shame parliamentary inquiry and now chair of the International Commission on Shipping. In Melbourne the union is holding a similar function at the Pollywoodside Maritime Museum with retired Captain Bill Bolitho, former ANL chairman, as guest of honour.

Mr Morris released a damning report earlier this year exposing the widespread slavery and environmental risks posed by substandard vessels operating in the world's deregulated cut throat shipping industry. He is also speaking at a Newcastle function on Tuesday 25 at 11.30am at Club Nova.

Similar events are being staged worldwide as the International Transport Workers' Federation calls on affiliates to mark the day by highlighting the effects of globalisation on the world's seafarers and our environment.

The MUA/ITF safe ships, clean seas campaign has won widespread support from surfing fraternity and celebrities nationwide, with WA protests and surfing contests timed to mark the10th anniversary of the Kirki oil tanker disaster in July. Supporting the campaign is surfing legend longboard national title holder and former world champ Wayne Deane.

MUA beachside protests will continue nationwide during Spring in the lead up to the Federal election to promote public awareness of the environmental dangers posed by the Government's policy of allowing substandard foreign shipping to trade on our coast.

For further information

Contact:	Zoe Reynolds
Union:	Maritime Union of Australia
Phone:	0417 229873
WWW:	http://mua.tcp.net.au/

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