ADDING to a long list of vessels suffering technical problems in port waters the Briese MPP BBC Raise suffered engine failure when departing Melbourne on Sunday evening, leading to AMSA detention.
The 2011-built vessel is sure to be undergoing close scrutiny by the authority, which last year delivered several scathing assessments of Briese safety and PSC performance, having banned three of their vessels from Australia waters: BBC Jade for 90 days, BBC Weser for 90 days and BBC Pearl for 120 days.
BBC Raise berthed at around 1500 on Saturday [6 July] on arrival from Cape Town. After working cargo at E Appleton Dock the ship departed under pilotage just before 1600 on Sunday but suffered engine failure in the River Yarra and was temporarily put alongside at 6 Yarraville, before being returned to E Appleton at 2320.
An AMSA spokesperson yesterday said the authority was “aware of the propulsion failure of the Antigua and Barbuda vessel BBC Raise and has detained the vessel in the Port of Melbourne.
“The vessel will remain under detention until the issue is resolved and the vessel can assure ongoing reliability to the satisfaction of the classification society and AMSA,” the spokesperson said. At time of writing BBC Raise is listed to depart again for Mackay at 1830 today [9 July].
The latest incident follows a similar breakdown affecting the Maersk-chartered containership Oslo Trader which suffered main engine failure when departing Swanson Dock on 25 June.
Separately, the 6246 TEU MSC Kalamata VII finally sailed from Melbourne for Port Botany yesterday afternoon [8 July] after being under repair at the Melbourne anchorage since 29 June. The ship, employed on the MSC/ZIM Panda/ZAX service from China, worked cargo at VICT before shifting out to anchor.
AMSA told DCN it was is aware that Liberian flagged containership MSC Kalamata VII had been in the Port of Melbourne for some time making repairs to critical shipboard equipment.
“While not formally detaining the vessel, AMSA has been monitoring the situation closely and communicating with the vessel operators on rectification actions,” the spokesperson said.
“AMSA is now satisfied that the vessel has adequately addressed these rectification actions and has no objection to its departure, subject to any further restrictions or controls of the local Port Authority.”
