Unseaworthy Bulk Carrier Given 3 Month Australia Ban

In a media release dated June 4, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) announced that the bulk carrier Peace has been banned from Australian ports for three months due to being deemed unseaworthy.

The vessel was detained at Newcastle Port on May 31 because of significant maintenance issues and severe deterioration of various components, including essential fixtures like hatches.

AMSA described the condition of Peace as substandard, posing risks to the safety of the crew and the marine environment of Australia. The vessel had watertight and weathertight integrity failures that could have led to flooding, cargo damage, loss of stability, or potentially sinking.

The bulk carrier was released from detention on June 3, only after all identified deficiencies were addressed. Following its release, AMSA imposed a three-month ban on the vessel from entering any Australian port.

The 175,858 dwt Peace, registered in Cyprus, is operated by Danaos Shipping. This marks the second detention of a Danaos Shipping capesize bulker in an Australian port, the first being the Suez Canal, which was detained in January 2024.

The Suez Canal faced detention in January 2024 due to systemic issues. AMSA had issued a warning letter to Danaos Shipping, urging them to rectify the problems with the vessel.

Built in 2010 at Jinhai Heavy Industry in China, the Peace departed from Newcastle, Australia, on June 4.