⚠️ AMSA has banned the vessel from entering Australian ports for 90 days after identifying serious crew welfare violations.
On April 23, 2026, during a Port State Control inspection in Newcastle, Australian inspectors checked the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier FPMC B Forever.
During the inspection, serious violations were identified, including:
underpayment of crew wages exceeding US$10,853,
unlawful charges imposed on seafarers for drinking water onboard.
The shipowner was ordered to repay the outstanding wages to the crew. Seafarers cannot legally be charged additional fees for basic necessities, including access to drinking water.
The vessel was built in 2010 by Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry in China and is part of the fleet operated by Taiwan-based Formosa Plastics Group – a major company managing more than 40 vessels, including bulk carriers, tankers, and gas carriers.
AMSA representative Greg Witherall stated:
“Underpaying seafarers – by any amount – is unlawful and will trigger enforcement action. If operators attempt to cut costs at the expense of their crew, the consequences will be far greater.”
⚠️ On May 8, 2026, AMSA officially published the ban/refusal of access decision. The vessel is prohibited from entering Australian ports until July 28, 2026.
We are sharing this to show how important it is to see the real situation onboard. You will not find this information in job offers, and nobody will warn you before joining the vessel.
