The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued a 90-day ban from Australian ports to Spliethoff’s vessel Flevogracht due to a defective rescue boat engine.
AMSA had previously issued Spliethoff two warning letters outlining concerns about their ships’ seaworthiness. According to AMSA, this latest incident is part of a pattern of unacceptable performance by the operator that jeopardizes the ship’s integrity, the safety of the crew, and the marine environment. The detention is linked to serious failure to effectively implement Safety of Navigation processes.
The fact that Spliethoff ships continue to be detained is evidence of their ongoing and repeated lack of concern for safety and environmental protection
… said Michael Drake, Executive Director of Operations at AMSA
Further AMSA Detentions
A few weeks ago, the AMSA inspection of the MSC Kymea II found 21 deficiencies in total, including a defective free fall lifeboat steering system, defective fire safety systems, dangerously-stored flammable materials, and multiple wasted or missing railing safety chains used to prevent stevedores from falling from heights when lashing cargo. After that, AMSA refused access of the Liberian-flagged container ship to Australian ports for 90 days.
Before this incident, another MSC vessel inspected two weeks prior and was found with a corroded fuel-oil tank air pipe, and the evidence suggested that the ship attempted to hide the seriousness of the defect from authorities by covering up the rusted pipe with canvas and painting over it.
