Latest news with #stevedore
ABC News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
World championship boxer Che Kenneally's battle to pay to fight for title
Before Che Kenneally can step into the ring to defend a boxing world title next month, the 30-year-old Gold Coaster must raise thousands of dollars for the privilege. As a professional boxer, Kenneally's light-heavyweight bouts have to be sanctioned by one of the sport's governing bodies — in Kenneally's case, the World Boxing Association (WBA). Sanctioning costs, which can reach into the tens of thousands of dollars, are often covered by boxing promoters who recoup their investment by selling tickets, broadcast rights and access to fights. But female fighters are rarely afforded this luxury, and Kenneally will need to stump up more than $25,000 to enter the ring. To reach that financial goal, the single mother has turned to community fundraising while working full time as a stevedore at the Port of Brisbane. "I still have to fit in two training sessions per day and try to find the funds to fight," Kenneally said. "You're either at one end of the spectrum where you're killing it as an athlete … or you're on the other end, living pay cheque to pay cheque, doing your best and that's still not enough." Defending her title is not the first time Kenneally has had to pay to fight — to challenge for the then-vacant world title last year, she raised funds and used sponsorship and a loan to cover the costs. As the champion, the stakes are higher; if she can't raise the sanctioning fees before the July deadline and the fight is cancelled, she will have to give up her title without the opportunity to defend it. Kenneally's position is a "path well-trodden" by professional athletes, according to the director of La Trobe University's Centre for Sport and Social Impact, Geoff Dickson. "[But] the pathway to the top for elite female athletes is slightly narrower, steeper, and fundamentally more treacherous than it is for male athletes." Dr Dickson said government grants and funding were generally unavailable to professional boxers like Kenneally, as they were reserved for amateurs who had a pathway to the Olympic Games. "She's to be commended for what she's doing. She's getting towards the pointy end of her sport," he said. Kenneally said she recognised the path of a professional female boxer was always going to be difficult, but working full time to make ends meet for her and her daughter made it even more so. "Being an athlete is hard … but I've chosen to be an athlete and I've chosen to have a baby, so I've put the pressure on myself," she said. "I want to be a great athlete, and to be that I need to put the time in, but there's only so many hours in the day and mine are pretty full up at the moment." Griffith University researcher and former Muay Thai fighter Erin Nichols said there was a long way to go before gender equality was achieved in combat sports such as boxing. "Women's boxing is still building legitimacy, unfortunately, in the eyes of promoters and broadcasters, despite the evidence of growing fan interest," Dr Nichols said. Dr Nichols said Kenneally's fight outside the ring to raise the required funds was "emblematic of the wider landscape" female athletes operated in. "Her story is a powerful example of the tenacity [and] the leadership that so many women athletes bring to their sport," she said. "Her willingness to fundraise publicly to maintain her title defence and speak openly about the barriers she faces makes it not just a personal triumph, it's a form of advocacy."
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- RNZ News
Union calls for tougher laws after stevedore falls from cargo ship at Port Nelson
By Tracy Neal, Open Justice reporter of Port Nelson was fined $110,000 over the incident involving the Maersk Nansha. Photo: Open Justice / Stephen Overton. A union has called for tougher laws to protect workers on foreign ships in New Zealand ports, after a stevedore plunged 12m into the sea from the deck of a cargo ship. But the government says making such a change would be "complex" and "difficult". Port Nelson has been fined $110,000 over the incident in January 2023 when a guard rail on a ship, Maersk Nansha snapped as the stevedore was helping load containers. The port company was also ordered to pay $5000 in emotional harm reparation to the victim, who suffered not only physical injuries but a form of post trauma disorder from the near-death experience. He told the Nelson District Court during sentencing earlier this month that he thought he would drown after falling into the sea at night, not knowing which way was up or down. "Falling from a great height into the water was terrifying. I thought I was going to die," the man read from his victim impact statement. Port Nelson Ltd had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge brought by Maritime NZ under the Health and Safety at Work Act, around its failure to provide a duty of care in a work environment. Judge Jo Rielly acknowledged at sentencing that problems with the guard rails on the container ship had previously been flagged, but for a number of reasons it appeared the message had failed to reach the right people. "The focus must be on Port Nelson's role in what occurred in this incident, but it's clear they were not the only company that had a role in events," she said. The Rail and Maritime Transport Union said the sentencing outcome showed the "urgent need" for stronger health and safety enforcement in New Zealand ports, but the spotlight also needed to go on the seaworthiness and safety of international vessels calling at New Zealand ports. Union general secretary Todd Valster said that while the fine acknowledged a breach of duty by the port company, the issue was a systemic one. He said the fact that known issues with the ship's guard rails were not adequately addressed was a serious indictment. "This was a horrifying ordeal for our member that could have easily been fatal." NZME has approached Maersk's media representatives in Europe and Asia for comment, but has not received a response. Valster said the need to ensure a safe working environment included "rigorous checks" on the seaworthiness and safety compliance of all visiting vessels. Associate Transport Minister James Meager, who has delegated responsibilities for the maritime sector and oversight of Maritime NZ, told NZME that the Government had no current plans to expand the liability of the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) legislation to encompass foreign-flagged vessels. He said maritime safety was governed by international conventions and without international agreement, applying local law to operators operating out of other jurisdictions would be difficult. "Making such a law change would be complex," Meager said. However, he said Maritime NZ had several tools to hold foreign-flagged vessel operators to account, under port state control. "There are some instances where a foreign-flagged vessel will be subject to HSWA, such as, where a New Zealand company is operating them under charter, where it is operating between New Zealand and a workplace involved with mineral extraction in the EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone]." The union said it would continue to advocate for the safety and wellbeing of all rail and port workers. * This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald .
RNZ News
06-05-2025
- RNZ News
Port Nelson fined $110,000 after worker's 12m fall from ship
By Tracy Neal, Open Justice reporter of Nelson Port. Photo: NZME A port company worker thought he would drown after falling 12m from a ship into the sea at night, not knowing which way was up or down. The man, who worked as a stevedore at Port Nelson, said in court on Tuesday that he was terrified at the time and was left emotionally distraught by the process that followed, including the fact that no one had seen him fall or had helped. He fell after a guard rail on the ship gave way when he was helping to load containers. "Falling from a great height into the water was terrifying. I thought I was going to die," the man read from his victim impact statement. Port Nelson Limited had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge brought under the Health and Safety at Work Act, around its failure to provide a duty of care in a work environment. Today, it was fined $110,000 in the Nelson District Court and ordered to pay $5000 in emotional harm reparation to the victim, who suffered not only physical injuries but a form of post trauma disorder from the near-death experience. Judge Jo Rielly acknowledged the port company was not solely responsible for what happened. Problems with the guard rails on the container ship had previously been flagged, but for a number of reasons it appeared the message had failed to reach the right people. "The focus must be on Port Nelson's role in what occurred in this incident, but it's clear they were not the only company that had a role in events." The victim, who was granted permanent name suppression, began work as a stevedore at Port Nelson in May 2022, and a few months later began training as a container deckhand. In mid-January 2023 the container ship, Maersk Nansha, arrived in port. Overnight on 15-16 January the victim began his shift, which included "spotting" containers, something Judge Rielly said he was not properly trained for. She said the victim was aware some of the rails were not secure but it was unclear if he knew those in the area where he was working were at risk of failing. "He was standing on the edge of the ship alone, without a buddy. Others were working in the area, but not with him, nor was he in their line of sight." Judge Rielly said the victim did not intentionally lean on the railing, knowing it was not secure, but the next thing, with his radio in his hand, he heard a snap and tumbled 12m down in an uncontrolled fall. It was dark and he sank deeply in full work attire including a hard hat and heavy boots. He managed to get to the surface, but, because he had not managed to call through his task change, no one knew he was in the water. "He tried to make a noise but no one could hear," Judge Rielly said. His radio and cellphone were water damaged so he swam with the tide to the stern of the ship and pulled himself out of the harbour by clambering up rocks. The victim said in his statement he had no sense of direction after surfacing from the fall, and had to quell rising panic when he realised he had only one chance to make the right call over the direction he should swim. "I realised that if I got it wrong, I would drown. I still have nightmares about it." Judge Rielly said it was lucky in one regard that he had not fallen portside, on to the dock. The victim said the trauma became worse when he was made to feel like the accident was his fault. He said Maritime New Zealand's notice that it planned to interview him "under caution" made him feel like a suspect, which was overwhelming. Maritime NZ, as the prosecutor, said the vessel's crew had been notified about the guard rails by Port Nelson staff, which prompted Judge Rielly to clarify where the dereliction of duty lay. She also questioned why it had taken a year to lay the charge from the time of the accident, which had had an impact on the victim. The lawyer for Port Nelson, Garth Gallaway, acknowledged that what the victim had endured had been "awful". He said criticism did not rest only with Port Nelson, but the regulator too should take some responsibility for not bringing a charge sooner. The port company said in a statement to media that it took health and safety obligations "extremely seriously" and had co-operated fully with Maritime New Zealand's investigation. "We are genuinely remorseful that this incident has occurred. "Since the incident, we have implemented significant changes and will continue to ensure that safety is always our top priority," the company said. Judge Rielly said in setting a fines starting point at $200,000 that credit was warranted for the company's guilty plea, the fact it had not "quibbled" over the reparation order and that the parties had engaged in restorative justice. The company had also taken steps to reduce the risk of something similar happening again, and had been genuinely focused on a workplace review. - This story was originally published by NZ Herald
