Tag: AMSA

The Australian transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) announced that the investigation into the loss of containers overboard from YM Efficiency, off Newcastle, on 1st June 2018, is continuing. The investigation is currently in the examination and analysis phase.

AMSA warned that it has received reports that its phone number has been used to make scam phone calls. When the call is answered, a computer-generated voice can be heard. The voice claims to be from the Australian Tax Office. The Authority explained that if anyone receives an automated call pretending to be from AMSA, it is a scam, as AMSA does not use automated calling. 

Australia Maritime Safety Authority published its Port State Control for 2018, exerting a positive influence on the quality of vessels arriving in Australia. AMSA has approximately 60 marine surveyors across Australia that conduct PSC inspections and every year AMSA publishes a report on the results.

Starting from 1st April 2019, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has applied changes to shipping registration laws, some of which may impact operators. Namely, the way of closing a registration—for ships not required to be registered has changed.

Australian authorities detained the Liberian-registered bulk carrier 'Anna-Elisabeth' after crew onboard the vessel complained of insufficient food, bullying aboard the vessel and denial of shore leave. ITF received the complaints from onboard the ship berthed at the Port Kembla Coal Terminal on 25 March.

AMSA informed that on April 6th, the GPS week counter rolls over and resets to zero. This change may affect Industrial Control Systems and Critical Infrastructure owners and operators. It could also lead to log time stamp information, loss of communication between devices, inability to authenticate multi-factor authentication, or the ability to log in to computers.

Analysis of AMSA’s Port State Control data indicated that there were 896 maintenance-related deficiencies issued in 2017 and 708 in 2018. This amount represents 13% of the overall deficiencies during 2017-18. A recent study which included 1026 seafarers, identified that over 20% of seafarers reported working more than 69 hours per week with unpredictable working hours.

Reports claiming that the crewmembers of the Solomon Trader were absent from the ship during the grounding or intoxicated celebrating Chinese are not true, the owner of the ship notes. The MV Solomon Trader was loading bauxite when due to rough seas, it ran aground at Kangava Bay, Rennell Island, on 4 February. Now, there is a high risk that the rest of HFO on the vessel, which is estimated to be more than 600 tonnes, will be released into the surrounding area.

After contacting aerial assessments on the Solomon Trader, AMSA confirmed that the oil spill has started to disperse across the surrounding sea and shoreline. The oil expands five to six kilometres across the shore and is moving towards the East Rennell world heritage site. It also added that there is a high risk that the rest of HFO on the vessel, which is estimated to be more than 600 tonnes, will be released into the surrounding area.

Maritime Safety Victoria has partnered with AMSA to urge boaters and paddlers to carry a distress beacon. Carrying a means of calling for help when out on the water is standard for most boaters and many paddlers, however many believe that a mobile phone and/or hand-held radio are enough. One of the greatest risks to boaters and paddlers is unexpectedly entering the water, and then not being able to get back onto their vessel or call for help.