Police have moved in this morning to end a standoff on a ship in the Port of Newcastle.
Officers marched up the gang plank of the CSL Melbourne to remove five crew members, who refused to leave the ship after being laid off earlier this week.
The shipping company says the lay-offs came after the loss of a contract to transport alumina between Gladstone and Newcastle for Pacific Aluminium.
A smaller foreign-crewed ship will take over the role.
The Maritime Union of Australia, which represents the seasfarers, says the action highlights the loss of Australian jobs in the industry.
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