The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has banned its fifth vessel from Australian ports for “serious and repetitive failings in the vessel’s operations and maintenance”, it reported on 21 September.
Indonesian-flagged general cargo vessel Noah Satu (IMO9313620) has been refused entry to Australian ports for three months after being detained four times since August 2013.
All four detentions identified serious issues including failure to comply with the Safety of Life at Sea Convention and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.
The AMSA reported the last detention was on 14 September at Port Alma, Queensland adjoining the Great Barrier Reef.
AMSA inspections uncovered that the vessel carried incorrect navigational charts, expired or unmaintained safety equipment, and unapproved machinery configurations. It was found to have inappropriate passage planning, and had repeatedly failed to comply with mandatory reporting requirements while transiting the Reef.
The vessel’s shipboard safety management system was inadequate and did not comply with mandatory rules ensuring the vessel was capable or responding to emergency situations.
Noah Satu has also failed to undertake enclosed space entry drills or keep records of hours of work and rest for crew. Food supply has been inadequate.
AMSA CEO Mick Kinley said unsafe operation of vessels posed an unacceptable risk to seafarers and the environment.
“AMSA treats any breaches of international shipping standards very seriously,” he said. “Ships that continually demonstrate non-compliance with Australian standards are not welcome in Australian waters.”
Noah Satu is the fifth vessel to be banned from Australian ports under Australia’s Navigation Act 2012, which came into effect in July 2013. Four of the five bans have been imposed on Indonesian vessels.
Owners PT Anugerah Samudra Indomakur and operators PT Adnyana are both Indonesian based.
In January, the AMSA banned Indonesian flagged Red Rover for 12 months – after earlier banning two other Meratus Line vessels to MV Meratus Sanggata and Territory Trader.
The Liberian-flagged Vega Auriga was the first vessel barred from Australian ports for three months in August 2014 for breaches of the Maritime Labour Convention.
According to the AMSA annual ship detention report for 2014, detentions were up 15.5% from the previous year.
While Panama accounted for the vast bulk of shipping to Australian ports and the most detentions in sheer numbers, (followed by Hong Kong, Liberia, and Singapore), Indonesia topped the detention rate percentage wise. Also earning top five detention rates were Antigua, Cyprus, Greece, and Malaysia.
This post was sourced from IHS Maritime 360: View the original article here.
