The administrative error has blown into a full-scale industrial standoff between the Greek owners of the vessel and the International Transport Workers Federation.

"My understanding was that the captain refused to sign an International Minimum Standards Agreement," AWB spokesman Peter McBride said this morning.

"There was a minor administrative error when we booked the ship and we are continuing to co-operate with the union and the vessel owner to get the matter resolved as soon as possible."

The Federation's national co-ordinator Dean Summers said he suspected the ship, called Pontoclydon and chartered by the AWB, was abusing labour standards.

Yesterday, the vessel's captain refused to let the Federation speak with his 16-strong Filipino crew, or inspect their wage records.

Mr Summers said the captain allowed a Federation delegate onto the ship about 7 o'clock this morning as the first grain was due to be loaded.

"An ITF inspector got on board this morning and spoke to the captain," Mr Summers said.

"The captain wasn't backing down at all."

Mr Summers said the captain refused his union's request to inspect Pontoclydon's wage logs to ensure the crew was being paid properly and not being over-worked.

"I have spoken to the wheat board which usually has a lot higher standards and makes sure ships have International Transport Federation agreements," Mr Summers said.

"This one doesn't - somehow it slipped through their net."

Mr Summers said the company running the ship, Ocean Freighter Limited, was based in Greece, but its vessels flew Cypriot flags because it was cheaper to register ships in Cyprus.

He said industrial breaches were common on such 'flag of convenience' ships.

"The company had an ITF agreement until three years ago, but they've had a change of management and gone a bit feral," Mr Summers said.

"They are effectively ripping off the farmers in Geraldton and a lot of other exporters who are using this type of transport and paying for the liner to pay their crew right."

Mr McBride said the AWB was confident a settlement would be reached in time for the ship to be loaded and weigh anchor by the end of this week.

Attempts to reach the ship's captain by telephone were unsuccessful.