Emergency supplies have been rushed to 20 Chinese sailors who were stranded by their employer on a coal ship off Queensland's coast without enough fuel to get home.
Ports Minister Mark Bailey says the bulk carrier Five Stars Fujian, loaded with millions of dollars of coal off the coast of Gladstone, was being detained by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority due to breaches of the Maritime Labour Convention relating to lack of food supplies and unpaid crew wages.
Mr Bailey said the ship owners had since left the crew "halfway around the world, stranded without food (and) without fuel".
"This is absolutely disgraceful and indefensible behaviour by the ship owners," Mr Bailey said.
He said the ship owners should face "absolutely tough" repercussions to show the behaviour wasn't tolerated.
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The International Transport Workers' Federation Australia says the crew aboard the Five Stars Fujian ship have been stranded offshore since July 19, when the owners "vanished".
Mr Bailey said Gladstone Ports Corporation flew food to the crew on Friday, while a vessel will deliver further supplies.
He said he didn't think there was a threat to the Great Barrier Reef, but the situation was being monitored.
