PJ comments

No wonder this tragedy happened due to the corrupt live export inustry. Livestock carriers, most of which are former bulk carriers nearing the end of their seagoing lives, are the most primitive of the world's commodity vessels according to the ITF. Among them, the many so-called flag of convenience ships are registered in tax havens like Panama and Liberia – and Third World countries – to avoid international shipping standards and safety regulations. Under the International Convention of Shipping Standards, accident investigations are the responsibility of the ship's port of registration, absolving the First World countries industry and authorities of obligations in this area. The report found that it is commonplace for third world seamen to be bashed, raped, starved and underpaid. The ITF claims to have documented numerous cases of intimidation, including workers' houses being burnt down, bashings, disappearances and suspected murder. To date the Australian government has failed to investigate a number of incidents, including the death of an Indonesian seaman who was bashed aboard an Italian-owned ship, off Dampier, and abandoned in shark-infested waters.