AMSA has banned another ship from Australian waters, the second this year and the 22nd since 2020.
This time it is the 25,953 DWT cement carrier Darya Shaan, registered to KC Maritime India Ltd and built in 2009 as the conventional bulker Elliot Avon, later Jupiter II and sold to and converted by its current owners in 2017-18.
Equasis lists the ship’s commercial manager as Dry Bulk Services of Hong Kong but it is technical manager Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (India) that AMSA has taken aim at in banning the ship from Australian waters for 180 days.
Darya Shaan originally arrived in Melbourne on 11 April with 20,000 tonnes of cement loaded in Telakbayur, Indonesia, and subsequently sailed to Port Adelaide, returning to Melbourne with a coastal cargo.
AMSA inspectors attended the ship at Melbourne on 26 April and found multiple maintenance issues on board.
These included defective main engine control and monitoring systems; a faulty engine room alarm monitoring system; defective starting arrangements for two generators; a failure to maintain the ship after survey, evidenced by 19 deficiencies, and a safety management system that fails to ensure the ship is maintained and that defects are reported appropriately.
Darya Shaan was moved to a lay-by berth and then to anchor, finally departing for Colombo on 8 May.
AMSA says the vessel-operator “took repeated risks with the safety of the crew, vessel and Australian marine environment by not reporting serious defects to the main engine and machinery whilst the ship entered Australian ports”. The authority was aware Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (India), was notified of “serious safety concerns” prior to arrival in Australia.
Executive director of operations Michael Drake said these defects posed a significant risk to the Australian marine environment and the safety of the Darya Shaan’s crew.
“When ship operators play fast and loose with engine maintenance, the consequences can be dire,” he said.
“These defects could cause the ship to lose power during critical navigation, such as in a narrow channel, resulting in a grounding, or collision with another ship or structure.
“The fact that this operator knew about these defects and did not report them to AMSA is appalling and deserving of a 180-day ban.
“This was a clear attempt to conceal serious defects to Australian authorities and demonstrates a disregard for the safety of the ship, its crew and the marine environment.”
Mr Drake said AMSA had noticed an increase in main engine defects in recent years and had been taking action on substandard vessels.
“That’s why we issued Marine Notice 10/2022 in November 2022, to ensure ship operators know their responsibilities.
“AMSA has a world-class reputation as a regulator, and we will not tolerate unsafe ships in our waters. “If Anglo Eastern had complied with its obligations and reported the defects, AMSA would not have detained the vessel under port state control procedures. We would have worked with the operator constructively and pragmatically to ensure the ship was safe and met convention requirements.”
