Australia bans Kia Ora for three months

No, Australia has not banned a child-oriented fruit drink – nor a South Korean car brand. It has, however, banned MSC’s vessel, Kia Ora, from its ports. It seems the Australian Maritime Safety Authority doesn’t like those that cheat the labour convention (it’s a shame not all Australians don’t like cheating…). And, after an AMSA officer boarded the Liberian-flagged containership for inspection in mid-March, the discovery that crew had been underpaid for four months left them with no choice. MSC now finds its vessel will be out in the cold for three months, becoming the fifth the authority has banned in the last 24 months.