Australia is continuing to move forward with a “crackdown on poor performers in the maritime industry,” announced the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issuing a ban to a Dutch flagged (NLD) general cargo ship, the second such action of 2023. This is part of an effort in which the safety authority has taken action against established European ship management companies versus previous bans often on smaller, flag of convenience carriers.
The 90 day ban announced early this week is for the 2011 built cargo ship FLEVOGRACHT homeported at Amsterdam, Netherlands and operated by the Spliethoff Group. The 12,500 dwt vessel has been in Australia since mid-February arriving from Nuku Alofa, Tonga first at Kwinana, Australia on February 17 and left on March 3rd for Newcastle. AMSA reported that it had detained the FLEVOGRACHT after the ship’s rescue boat engine was found to be defective.
The latest marks AMSA’s fifth detention of Spliethoff ships in the past two years. Three of the detentions were related to serious failures to effectively implement Safety of Navigation processes and all occurred in Queensland waters, around the Great Barrier Reef.
Last February 16, the Master of the FLORIJNGRACHT was fined $6,000 for breaching compulsory pilotage laws after the ship illegally entered the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park without a marine pilot.
AMSA Executive Director of Operations Michael Drake said AMSA takes its responsibility as Australia’s maritime regulator very seriously.
All images of FLEVOGRACHT are at Grand Harbour, Malta during a Sevenstar Yacht Operation back to January 2013.
