The Australian Maritime Safety Agency recently announced an 18-month ban on port calls for a bulk carrier owned by a Qatar company, after the ship had been detained for two months. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority described the conditions on the bulk carrier as "shocking" and warned all shipowners and operators that it "maintains zero tolerance for substandard ships operating in Australian waters."
The two-month detention incident has aroused widespread international attention. This requires the support and cooperation of Australian mining, maritime unions, port officials, classification societies, flag states and safety inspectors to ensure the welfare of the crew. Guaranteed.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation and the Australian Ship Masters Association have been calling on the Australian Maritime Safety Agency to take severe action. The Australian Maritime Safety Agency responded that it will focus on solving the problem and will take related actions. Recently, the longest ban on ships in history was promulgated.
Sachi Wimmer, Deputy Executive Officer of the Australian Maritime Safety Agency, said: “The ban on port calls not only disrupts the transportation plan, but also causes huge financial and reputational damage to the companies associated with these ships.” “In Australian waters, it’s not welcome. Ship operators like this."
In mid-February this year, a Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier "Maryam" (46,750 dwt) arrived in New South Wales, which first attracted the attention of the Australian authorities. Inspectors of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority found serious defects in the maintenance of the ship’s equipment, working and living conditions, and ordered them to be detained. The bulk carrier "Maryam" was detained for nearly 10 weeks.
The newly announced ban occurred on the company’s second vessel, which arrived at the Australian port two weeks after the arrival of the first vessel. On March 4, inspectors from the Australian Maritime Safety Agency detained the bulk carrier "Movers 3" after the inspection because the vessel did not undergo regular inspections and "the working and living conditions on board are very poor." The Australian Maritime Safety Agency reported that the crew’s food storage was unsafe and inadequate, and the supply of fresh water was low.
When the classification society inspected the ship on behalf of the Panamanian flag state, they also found some problems related to the crew contract and the working documents on board.
Sachi Wimmer, Deputy Executive Officer of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, said: "The negligence of the shipping company caused the seafarers of the bulk carrier Movers 3 to have a difficult two months, not to mention that many organizations have done for them during this time. "We ask shipping companies to take responsibility. If the company wants to trade in Australian ports in the future, then it needs to strengthen and fulfill its obligations as a shipowner and operate responsibly."
On April 29, the bulk carrier "Movers 3" was released from detention. The Australian Maritime Safety Administration immediately issued a ban, prohibiting the bulk carrier "Movers 3" from entering Australian ports for up to 18 months.
From: Shipping Online