The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has signed new work arrangements with Japanese energy giant INPEX on the $34 billion dollar Ichthys LNG project off the north-west coast of Australia which will support up to 2,000 Australian jobs.
The Enhanced Dispute Settlement Process, Development & Production Arrangement (EDSPDPA) will run until at 2030 and includes commitments towards the development of maritime employees, the implementation of a diversity program, and the promotion of Australian crews on certain Project support vessels.
These commitments are aimed at retaining and enhancing the skills and experience of Australian maritime workers in the offshore oil and gas sector and also involve an enhanced dispute settlement process with a dedicated conciliator to help resolve potential disputes without resort to industrial action.
MUA Western Australian Branch Secretary and National President Chris Cain said the work arrangements cover rig tenders, drilling rigs, seismic vessels, supply vessels and accommodation vessels.
In addition to the MUA, the agreement also covers the Australian Maritime Officers Union (AMOU) and Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE).
The Ichthys Project is expected to produce 8.9 million tonnes of LNG and 1.6 million tonnes of LPG each year, along with more than 100,000 barrels of condensate per day at peak.
It is estimated that the operational phase of the INPEX gas plant could be up to 40 years as Australia joins Qatar as the world’s largest producer of LNG.