Australia Bans Cargo Ship for 180 Days Over Violations

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued a 180-day ban on the general cargo vessel Marsgracht from accessing any Australian ports, citing repeated safety violations as the reason for the stringent action.

The Marsgracht was first detained at Port Alma, Australia, on February 6 this year due to improper storage of dangerous cargo. The storage methods were found to be in breach of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Nine months later, on November 14, the vessel was detained again at the same port after a Port State Control inspection uncovered similar violations involving the unsafe storage of hazardous goods.

The vessel's operator, Spliethoff's Bevrachtingskantoor B.V., has also faced scrutiny for its poor compliance record in Australia. AMSA has reported that four of the company's vessels have been detained at Australian ports, with the operator holding a detention rate of 12.6%, significantly above the industry average.

AMSA emphasized its commitment to upholding international safety standards, stating that it acts decisively against unsafe vessels and their owners to ensure maritime safety.