Tag: AMSA

  The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has successfully prosecuted the master and owners of the Hong Kong registered bulk carrier ANL Kardinia for illegally dumping garbage in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. One Armania Shipping Ltd and the master of ANL Kardinia were found guilty on July 20 in the Townsville Magistrates Court on one charge each of illegally disposing of garbage under the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983. The illegal discharge took place on 13 February 2015 and was detected by an AMSA Inspector during a routine Port State Control inspection in Brisbane on 16 February 2015. The AMSA Inspector examined ANL Kardinia’s Garbage Record Book and discovered an entry for a discharge of food waste within the prohibited discharge area of the Great Barrier Reef. One Armania Shipping Ltd was fined $4,000 and the master was fined $300 for the illegal discharge. AMSA Chief Executive Officer Mick Kinley said masters and owners of vessels should be warned that the illegal discharge of ships’ waste would not be tolerated in Australian waters. “Australia has a robust Port State Control regime, designed to ensure ship owners and their masters are following the rules ...

PSC detentions issued by USCG and AMSA is on the increase The Liberian Registry, has recently issued two Marine Advisories to warn on the increase of detentions in the US and Australia. Due to recently increased number of PSC detentions issued by USCG and AMSA to ships calling the US and Australia respectively, LISCR issued Marine Advisories 03/2015 & 04/2015 to provide guidance to ship managers / operators and crews in order to avoid such detentions.Both the USCG and AMSA are looking for pre-existing deficiencies that are not reported prior to a vessel's arrival or at the time of their initial port State boarding.In accordance with the Advisories detentions are avoidable, provided pre-existing deficiencies are reported and there is evidence that corrective action has been initiated.In order to avoid detention and delay of the vessel's schedule the owners, operators, and DPA's are advised to follow the actions below:1. Prior Arrival actions:Require Master's and crew to report all defective and/or inoperable equipment, system, etc., and ensure corrective action has been initiated, in accordance with the Safety Management System.Notify the Administration prior to the vessels port call of any defective and/or inoperable equipment, system, etc., so we are aware and can assist ...

Advice on how to avoid detention and delay of the vessels schedule The Liberia Maritime Authority (LISCR) issued a Marine Advisory to inform Shipowners, Operators and Masters that detentions in Australia are increasing.The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has increased the number of Port State Control inspections and the number of detentions issued to ships calling on Australia. As there are a number of Liberian flagged ships which call on Australia, the number of detentions of Liberian vessels has increased accordingly.The AMSA is looking for pre-existing deficiencies that are not reported prior to a vessels arrival or at the time of their initial port State boarding. The increased scrutiny is resulting in a significant increase in AMSA detentions. If AMSA finds pre-existing deficiencies without first being notified by the Master and, if appropriate corrective action has not been initiated, AMSA will assume the owner/Master intends to sail with the deficiencies un-addressed and will issue a detention.Detentions are avoidable, provided pre-existing deficiencies are reported and there is evidence that corrective action has been initiated. We receive many pre-arrival check lists indicating all is in order, yet during the subsequent PSC inspection equipment is reported as not operating as required. Often these ...

3742 PSC inspections, 269 ship detentions AMSA has released its Annual Report on Port State Control for 2014. By drawing comparisons based on 10 years of Australian PSC data the outcome may be considered, at first view, to be disappointing with the apparent stabilisation of annual PSC deficiency and detention rates over the last 5 years.While there have been modest improvements experienced across a number of areas, the overall picture indicates that the international community's PSC/ FSC efforts are not delivering lasting results. The principal causes of detention remain consistently related to International Safety Management (ISM), fire safety, lifesaving appliances and pollution prevention.It seems difficult to reconcile how well established requirements for fire safety, lifesaving appliances and pollution prevention continue to be such significant issues.10- year summary of inspection, detentions and deficiency rateTop 5 detainable deficiencies 2012-2014Part of the cause for this situation is the increasing focus by Australia on human factors, including operational control, ISM and the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006).The marginal increase in the deficiency and detention rates can be attributed to MLC, 2006 to a large degree. The fact that there was no significant spike in detentions or deficiency rates is encouraging given 2014 was ...

3742 PSC inspections, 269 ship detentions AMSA has released its Annual Report on Port State Control for 2014, a year which marked the introduction of a significant step-change in Australia's response to ships and operators who perform poorly on a consistent basis. In November and December 2014 AMSA used the directions power provided in section 246 of the Navigation Act 2012 to ban 2 ships from entering or using Australian ports for a period of 3 months.In exercising this power it is important to note that AMSA only employs this mechanism where normal PSC intervention has not been effective in achieving a lasting change in behaviour. It is only used where a systemic failure has been identified. The essential intent of the process is to improve performance rather than simply remove problem vessels from Australian ports .2014 at a glanceDuring the calendar year there were:- 26,936 ship arrivals by 5674 foreign-flagged ships- 3742 PSC inspections- 269 ship detentionsbulk carriers accounted for 49% of ship arrivals and 57% of PSC inspectionsPSC inspections were carried out in 54 Australian portsaverage gross tonnage per visit was 46,670 tonnes10- year summary of inspection, detentions and deficiency rateReport SummaryShipping activity continued to grow fairly strongly ...

  The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a Marine Notice to provide general information on Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Annex VI of MARPOL contains regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships and addresses the properties of marine fuels and engines, amongst other things. This Marine Notice focusses on MARPOL regulations that control emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides (NOx). These controls are divided between those applicable inside Emission Control Areas (ECAs) and those applicable everywhere else. In Australia these regulations are given effect in the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships Act) 1983 and Marine Order 97 – Marine pollution prevention – air pollution. SOx and Particulate Matter Emissions SOx and particulate matter emissions are a function of the sulphur content of fuel. Accordingly, the SOx control requirements in MARPOL Annex VI provide for a progressive global reduction in the sulphur content of marine fuels to reduce the emission of SOx and particulate matter from ships. The current maximum sulphur content of fuel oil in areas other than ECAs is 3.5 per cent. This will be reduced to 0.5 ...

  The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a Marine Notice to provide information to ship owners and operators on technical and operational measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships. Amendments to Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) introducing the mandatory global greenhouse gas reduction regime for the international industry sector were adopted at the 62nd session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in 2011 and entered into force on 1 January 2013. A new Chapter 4 entitled Regulations on Energy Efficiency for Ships has been added to MARPOL Annex VI which mandates: an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for certain new ships; a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for certain ships; and a requirement for certain ships to carry an International Energy Efficiency (IEE) Certificate. The new chapter 4 applies to ships of 400 gross tonnage and above engaged in international voyages, however does not apply to some ships not propelled by mechanical means, and platforms including FPSOs and FSUs and drilling rigs, regardless of their propulsion. Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships The EEDI is a non-prescriptive, performance-based mechanism that leaves the ...

AMSA issues Marine Notice AMSA has identified a number of instances where deep draught vessels may have transited very close to the charted position of OG Rock in the Prince of Wales Channel.For deep draught vessels the practice of transiting close to, or over, the charted position of OG Rock may increase risk, lead to a breach of AMSA's stipulated under keel clearance limit or, in the worst case scenario, lead to a vessel grounding.To assist deep draught vessels navigate in and around this area, AMSA has established a virtual' AIS Aid to Navigation (AtoN). A virtual AIS AtoN is an AtoN that can be displayed on vessel's navigation displays for a location where no actual physical aid to navigation exists.The virtual AIS AtoN readily and clearly indicates the charted position of OG Rock on navigational displays to assist Mariners keep deep draught vessels well clear of OG Rock and to avoid accidental breaches of Under Keel Clearance limits as stipulated in Marine Order 54.The virtual AIS AtoN appears in position (WGS84) 10 degrees 29.865 South; 142 degrees 20.753 East. This should display on vessels' ECDIS / Minimum Keyboard Displays / AIS equipment as a virtual Special Mark. The AIS ...

AMSA issues Marine Notice The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a Marine Notice to remind masters, skippers, watchkeepers and all other personnel involved in the operation of vessels about the importance of adhering to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (known as the Collision Regulations or COLREGs). This Notice also provides guidance for fishing vessels, yachts, barges and towing vessels to reduce the risk of collisions at sea.Application of COLREGsThe COLREGs apply to all vessels including barges, tugs, yachts, both commercial and recreational fishing vessels and all types of cargo and passenger vessels whether underway or at anchor. These regulations are applicable in all navigable waters, from inland waters to the high seas. The Navigation Act 2012 and Marine Order 30 (Prevention of Collisions) implements the COLREGs for Australian vessels and for other vessels operating in Australian waters. Contravention of COLREGs may jeopardise the safety of life at sea and constitutes an offence, for which substantial penalties may apply1.The COLREGs recognise the limitations associated with the navigation of different types of vessels in different waterways. For example, larger vessels may not be able to reduce speed quickly and will often require more sea-room to slow down ...

  The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has prosecuted two shipping companies and their masters for two separate marine pollution incidents within the Great Barrier Reef. Tokyo based Perses Maritima Ltd and the master of its Japan registered vehicle carrier Asteria Leader were found guilty on May 18 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on one charge each of illegally discharging garbage under the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983. A routine Port State Control inspection conducted by an AMSA marine surveyor at Fisherman Island in the Port of Brisbane revealed a record of the discharge of 0.03m3 of food waste within the Great Barrier Reef on October 8, 2014. Perses Maritima Ltd was fined $5000 for the illegal discharge and the master of the ship was fined $500. Hong Kong based company Seaspan Corporation and the master of its Hong Kong registered container ship CSCL Brisbane were found guilty of illegally discharging garbage on August 6 last year within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The illegal discharge was also discovered by an AMSA marine surveyor during a routine PSC inspection at Fisherman Island. It was also found that the ship’s passage plan did not take into ...