THE AUSTRALIAN Maritime Safety Authority has banned a Netherlands-flagged ship for improper stowage of dangerous goods.
General cargo ship Marsgracht (IMO 9571507) will not be permitted to enter Australian ports for 180 days.
Marsgract was first detained at Port Alma, near Queensland’s Rockhampton, on 6 February 2024. It was detained again on 14 November, at the same port, during a port state control inspection.
AMSA said the recurrence highlights “systemic failures in the ship’s safety management system and a serious lack of effective remedial action”.
The safety authority noted the detention is the fourth since July 2022 for a ship operated by Spliethoff’s Bevrachtingskantoor B.V. over failure to comply with IMO International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code requirements for stowage of dangerous goods.
According to AMSA, the repeated failures demonstrate “an inability to ensure safe operational practices across the fleet”.
It said the detention rate of Spliethoff’s Bevrachtingskantoor B.V. significantly exceeds the global average (12.6% over the past two years), with multiple ships detained for International Safety Management Code failures and other safety-critical deficiencies.
AMSA considers Spliethoff a poor performing operator, its detention rate reflecting a broader pattern of non-compliance, “undermining the safety of seafarers and the Australian marine environment”.
AMSA executive director operations Michael Drake said the authority had escalated its enforcement action to make it clear to the operator that the risk to safety and the marine environment would not be tolerated in Australia.
“Noting the seriousness and nature of these breaches, and the apparent lack of effective processes to rectify failings, it is appropriate that the Marsgracht not enter or use an Australian port for a period of 180 days,” Mr Drake said.
“AMSA takes its role as a maritime safety regulator very seriously and will not hesitate to take swift and appropriate action against unsafe ships, their owners and operators.
“International minimum standards exist to protect the lives of seafarers, and our precious marine and coastal environments.
“When it comes to loading dangerous cargo, there is no scope for non-compliance. There is no excuse for disregarding these standards.”
