Australia Bans Cypriot-Flagged Bulk Carrier 'Peace' for Unseaworthy Conditions

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has banned the Cypriot-flagged bulk carrier 'Peace' from entering Australian ports for three months on account of its unseaworthy condition. The vessel, operated by Danaos Shipping, was detained in Newcastle on May 31, 2024, after inspectors found significant maintenance issues and serious deterioration of fixtures and fittings, including hatches.

AMSA's Acting Executive Director Operations, Greg Witherall, expressed grave concerns about the vessel's condition. He stated, "The state of 'Peace' was so poor that it represented a very real and unacceptable risk to the safety of seafarers onboard and Australia's marine environment. Ships cannot be operated in this unseaworthy state."

Why this matters: The ban on the 'Peace' highlights the importance of maintaining seaworthy vessels to ensure the safety of seafarers and the marine environment. If left unchecked, unseaworthy vessels can lead to accidents, environmental disasters, and loss of life, making it essential for authorities to take strict action against negligent operators.

This is not the first incident involving Danaos Shipping. In January 2024, another of its vessels, the containership 'Suez Canal', was detained on account of similar issues. Witherall noted that the company was formally warned about the need to rectify systemic issues, but the warning seemed to have had little impact. * "Clearly that letter of warning fell on deaf ears. Fast forward 5 months and we have had yet another one of Danaos Shipping's vessels, the Peace, detained in an Australian port for a lack of maintenance and serious deterioration of fixtures and fittings such as hatches."*

The 'Peace' was released on June 3, 2024, after rectifying the deficiencies identified during the inspection. However, AMSA decided to implement the three-month ban to ensure the safety of seafarers and the marine environment. Witherall emphasized, "Allowing a ship to fall into a state of deterioration is completely unacceptable – there are no excuses for this level of neglect."

Danaos Shipping, one of the world's largest containership operators, has faced increased scrutiny from AMSA following these incidents. Witherall warned that further action might be taken against the company if it continues to operate unseaworthy vessels. *"Further action may be taken against the company itself should Danaos Shipping continue down this trajectory of operating unseaworthy ships."*

The ban on the 'Peace' is part of AMSA's strict policy to protect seafarers and the Australian environment. The authority has a list of ships that have been banned, which can be viewed on its website. The 'Peace' departed Australia on June 4, 2024, bound for China.

AMSA's actions highlight the importance of maintaining seaworthy vessels and the consequences of neglecting safety standards. The maritime community will be closely watching to see if Danaos Shipping takes the necessary steps to address these systemic issues.

Key Takeaways

• Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) bans Cypriot-flagged bulk carrier 'Peace' from Australian ports for 3 months.
• Vessel operated by Danaos Shipping was detained in Newcastle due to unseaworthy condition and maintenance issues.
• AMSA cites risk to seafarers and marine environment, warns of further action against Danaos Shipping if issues persist.
• This is the second incident involving Danaos Shipping in 2024, following a similar detention in January.
• AMSA emphasizes importance of maintaining seaworthy vessels to prevent accidents and environmental disasters.