THE AUSTRALIAN Maritime Safety Authority has banned the Netherlands-flagged general cargo ship Flevogracht (IMO 9509956) for 90 days.
AMSA detained the vessel, operated by the Spliethoff Group, after the ship’s rescue boat engine was found to be defective.
AMSA said it had previously issued Spliethoff with two warning letters, outlining concerns over the seaworthiness of their ships.
“This latest incident is part of a pattern of unacceptable performance from the operator, that poses a risk to the integrity of the ship, the safety of the crew, and the marine environment,” AMSA said in a statement.
The safety authority said it had now detained five Spliethoff ships in the past two years.
“Three of these detentions related to serious failures to effectively implement safety of navigation processes. All three of these detentions occurred in Queensland waters, around the Great Barrier Reef,” AMSA said.
On 16 February, the master of Spliethoff ship Florijngracht (IMO 9428413) copped a $6000 fine for breaching compulsory pilotage laws after the ship illegally entered the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park without a marine pilot, according to AMSA
AMSA executive director of operations Michael Drake said AMSA takes its responsibility as Australia’s maritime regulator very seriously.
“The fact that Spliethoff ships continue to be detained is evidence of their ongoing and repeated lack of concern for safety and environmental protection,” he said.
“The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s great natural wonders, and we have an obligation to ensure that any ships entering its waters do so safely and in full compliance of the law.
“Ship operators should be on notice that AMSA will not hesitate to take action when we find unacceptable practices on board ships.”
In a statement, Spliethoff said it had been sailing to Australia for more than 40 years and it is committed to ensuring that all its vessels visiting the country meet with all applicable requirements.
“We take the incidents that led to the ban of MV Flevogracht very seriously and have taken additional measures to ensure that our vessels meet the various international conventions and comply with the standards set for the safety of ships, safety and welfare of their seafarers and the protection of the marine environment,” the company said.
“Having provided services of the highest industry standards for over a century, we are confident we can achieve the same level of safe operations in Australia as we achieve in the rest of the world with our fleet of over 110 vessels.”
Flevograch is a 137-metre-long (LOA) general cargo ship of 12,500 DWT tonnes. AIS data shows it is berthed at the Port of Newcastle as of Tuesday morning (21 March).
AMSA’s ban of the general cargo vessel comes weeks after the authority banned the containership MSC Kymea II for 90 days in late February for “substandard performance” and maintenance issues.
